Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)

For several decades, the practice of symphysiotomy has had a devastating effect on women. Barbaric acts were inflicted unnecessarily on women who were in their most vulnerable state. At a time when joy for a newborn was to be expected, women were subjected to a procedure that would alter the rest of their lives.

The procedure was carried out on up to 1,500 women and resulted in a wide range of short and long-term complications, including walking difficulties, haematoma, incontinence, infections and pelvic joint pain among others. I remember well the indignity of having to be shaved, being given an enema and having an episiotomy, all to spare the blushes of the male doctors. Little did I realise at the time that the situation was worse for many women.

Watching the "Prime Time" programme on this matter a short time ago brought home to me the effects of this procedure. The acts were not consented to and amounted to institutional abuse. There is no retrospective justification for them. This 18th century practice was alive and well in the 20th century when other countries were phasing it out. The technique does not form any part of the Irish curriculum of specialist training and is apparently only taught as an emergency procedure. If this is the case, why was this practice being utilised by doctors in this country? Why was it that, in some cases, the procedure was carried out after the baby had been safely delivered, let alone before or during birth? Why on Earth were doctors with saws allowed to perform pubiotomys?

Survivors of Symphysiotomy, SOS, is a group that was formed to answer questions such as these. Like other Deputies, I welcome the many women in the Gallery, in particular a good friend of mine from County Wicklow, Marie and her husband, Billy, who have unsuccessfully lobbied previous Ministers to seek justice on this issue. The women in the Gallery represent only a fraction of those affected by the practice. Many women have passed away and others are unable to make it here today for health reasons.

I understand that the SOS group is seeking resolutions on a number of matters, including the lifting of the statute bar to enable women to seek redress through the courts, the setting up of an independent commission of inquiry, and access to promised health benefits and entitlements to be enshrined in statute. The Minister for Health has received a draft report on the practice of symphysiotomy from an independent academic researcher. I understand that this report has been sent to the Attorney General for her consideration and, subject to her views, will be made available for consultation.

It is important that, in the intervening period and until decisions on what will be done are taken, women have easy access to support services provided by the HSE. This has not been the case to date and some individuals have not even been able to access their own medical records. I urge SOS to press on and to keep up the pressure on politicians to act. Groups such as SOS are fundamentally important in bringing to light the dark side of a society that liked to hide in the shadows. The barbaric acts of the past are brought to the fore when a few people who are committed to seeing justice done come together. This is why the work of a coalition such as SOS should not be underestimated. I am reminded of a saying, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has".

I am heartened by the cross-party support on this issue. I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for convening the meetings and getting everything going. He is to be congratulated. I hope that the justice sought by SOS can be realised and that it will go some way towards addressing the grave wrongs that have been done. In the meantime, we all hold our heads in shame.

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