Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

I ask the Ceann Comhairle to bear with me. It included a provision to extend the relevant age to the then age of majority, 21, which would deal with a significant number of cases and be helpful to women, many of whom are now very elderly, very poor and in greatly reduced circumstances in Ireland, the UK and the United States. I have asked that the issue be discussed in the Adjournment debate and I hope it will be granted. The fact that officials from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform met Professor Smith represents a very welcome sea change from the previous approach. Obviously our public service is learning from the Ryan and Murphy reports.

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