Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)

I raise the issue of symphysiotomy of which the Taoiseach is very aware. It is an 18th century surgical operation performed on women that unhinges the pelvis and splits the pubic joint and its ligaments with a surgical knife or a saw. Patients were rarely asked for their consent. They were never told of the nature of the surgery or its risks or offered the safer alternatives of Caesarian section.

In my constituency, 350 of the estimated 1,500 symphysiotomies were carried out, many without the consent of the women victimised by this procedure. There have been statements in the Dáil and in the Seanad on this issue. In opposition both Government parties, including the Minister for Health, gave their support to the women involved.

There are approximately 200 survivors, some of whom are becoming quite frail. They are all very elderly agus níl aon dabht ann ach go ndearnadh éagóir uafásach ar na mná seo agus tá siad ag lorg birt ar a son de bharr an dochar a rinneadh orthu. Rinneadh brúidiúlacht ar a gcorp agus loiteadh a saol dá bharr. Tá sé thar am go ndéanfar an rud ceart agus cóir dóibh. All of the women involved, and we had them in here recently, bear deep physical and emotional scars.

I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that justice is done for these women by introducing legislation to lift the Statute of Limitations for 12 months to ensure that those who want to can seek redress through the courts. This was done previously regarding the issue of child abuse. Will the Government bring forward this legislation and, if so, will it do so early in the new Dáil term?

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