Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

When the Dignity 4 Patients group presented the results of a survey this morning, it showed that 18% of respondents believed they had been subjected to inappropriate action or comment while in the care of a health care professional. It is 17 years since complaints were first made of the sexual abuse of patients at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. Three years have passed since the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, tabled a motion calling for an immediate inquiry into the sexual abuse of patients at the hospital. The Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the President who were in opposition at the time voted in favour of the motion. Níl mé ag ardú an ábhar seo díreach os rud é go bhfuil ceisteanna á chur ar an Taoiseach inniu. Tá sé á ardú agam toisc go bhfuil sé tábhachtach do saoránaigh atá fós ag fulaingt de bharr an mí-úsáid ghnéasach a dhéanadh orthu. Tá trí bliana imithe ó d'iarr an Teachta Reilly go mbeadh fiosrú ann.

When I asked the Taoiseach about this issue last November, he volunteered to meet Opposition Deputies. However, I did not ask for this. He promised to meet them again before Christmas and has repeated that promise since. I am still waiting, as are the other Opposition leaders, but more importantly, more than 200 victims and survivors are still waiting. Every delay brings fresh pain and anguish to them every day. I again ask the Taoiseach to instigate an inquiry into the alleged sexual abuse of patients in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

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