Dáil debates

Thursday, 13 January 2011

2:00 pm

Photo of Caoimhghín Ó CaoláinCaoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I have been a member of an all-party Oireachtas group which, for a considerable period, has been pressing the Minister by every means open to it to acknowledge and provide compensation for the unfortunate women in question. The group is made up of representatives of the Fianna Fáil Party, Fine Gael Party, Labour Party, Sinn Féin and the Green Party across the entire north-east region and Dublin North.

The pain and anguish of the women concerned has been compounded by the Minister's persistent refusal to recognise properly their loss and suffering. Only 35 cases are excluded under the terms of the Lourdes hospital redress scheme. This very small cohort of tragic women includes one woman who was three days past her 40th birthday when her procedure was performed having been deferred by one week. Why were women aged over 40 years excluded under the terms of the redress scheme? I ask the Minister not to trundle out once more Judge Maureen Harding Clark's recommendations or advice because that is exactly what they were - recommendations and advice. The Minister has the power to respond appropriately to the cases in question.

I acknowledge, uniquely in my experience as a Deputy of almost 14 years, the cohesion and commitment to work together of all the Deputies and Senators who have been a constituent part of the all-party Oireachtas patient support group. I have no doubt that the points I am putting-----

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