Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)

I propose to share time with Deputy Regina Doherty. I welcome the survivors of symphysiotomy present in the Gallery to witness an historic and momentous occasion. Today represents an emotional occasion for them, their families and their friends. The women had to endure tremendous suffering for over 40 or 50 years in many cases due to the practice of symphysiotomy. It is of great significance that this is being debated in Dáil Éireann. Symphysiotomy was carried out on more than 1,500 women in Ireland between 1944 and 1992. It is said that it was used in exceptional circumstances and its use declined from the mid-1960s on, except in the case of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, where it remained in practice until 1984.

It is extremely disturbing to know that at a time when symphysiotomy was not being used elsewhere, it was still in practice in Ireland until 30 years ago. Serious questions must be answered in that regard and it is my hope that the draft report currently before the Attorney General will start the process of answering some of those questions.

I met with a number of members of the Survivors of Symphysiotomy last night, as did other Oireachtas Members, and one can only sympathise with the huge trauma they have experienced. This procedure, carried out in many cases without the permission of the patient, has left many women with permanent issues relating to mobility, incontinence, pain and depression. I read one extract in which a woman stated that after a symphysiotomy she had to be taught how to walk again. That is an example of the ordeal some of these women faced.

I listened last night, as did others, to horrific personal accounts of the way women were treated during childbirth and when I heard that women were shown a saw before it was used on them, I was horrified. I want to commend the women who came forward and told their stories last night because each time they tell them, they relive again the horror of what they went through. It was an awful experience for them.

I am a mother of two children who were both born by caesarean section and when I heard the stories last night of the way women were restrained, their arms pulled back and held down for the procedure to take place, I felt physically sick and ashamed that women could be treated in such a barbaric way in this country. The stories we heard were like something we would have heard happen in a remote part of the Third World in an almost ritualistic way.

Having a child should be a joyous occasion for any family but the sad reality is that this procedure has left women mutilated for life, to the extent that it has impacted on the quality and enjoyment of their lives. It has affected women from across the country, including in my own constituency. There was a telephone call to my office yesterday evening from a lady who had a symphysiotomy carried out in Drogheda. I understand she is unable to be present here today but she informed my office that she would be watching proceedings closely at home.

It is an important point, and other Deputies have alluded to it, that for the vast majority of women this procedure was carried out over 40 years ago. Some of them are now in old age and have been campaigning for justice all their lives. I hope that fact will be taken into consideration to ensure this matter is progressed as a matter of urgency.

As we are all aware, we are living in extremely difficult financial times and I am fully aware that the Government's strong focus is on improving our economic position. However, it is critically important that sensitive issues such as the one before us today are given the due consideration they deserve and not simply brushed aside, as has been the case in the past.

This is an issue which has cross-party support. I commend my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, who convened the all-party Oireachtas group and who I know has put a great deal of work into this issue. I pay tribute also to Marie O'Connor and to the groups that have provided many of the women with somewhere to turn to and ensured their voices are heard.

I reiterate my support for this issue. I want to impress upon the Minister to fully investigate it and to consider temporarily lifting the statute bar to enable women seek redress through the courts. Women have been treated with appalling disrespect. What they experienced was a form of institutional abuse. There must be an independent inquiry into this matter to ensure the pain and torture these victims of symphysiotomy endured can be publicly recognised, which would give them closure on the matter. I again impress upon the Minister that every effort should be made to ensure that finality is brought to this matter as soon as possible and that the women affected are given satisfactory closure also.

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