Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister indicated some time early in the new year. On receipt of the report, I presume the Minister will publish it so that we have the opportunity to examine its content. Whatever the final Walsh report contains, there is an onus and responsibility on all political voices to listen to the demands of the victims of what I have always seen as a barbarous procedure, a view the Minister has disputed. I refer also to the victims of the related procedure pubiotomy. We must listen to their appeals across a number of different processes of resolution. The choice should be given to the women. It is an ever-reducing number. Since the last time we addressed the issue in the Chamber, I know of a small number of victims who have passed on from this life. That will continue to be the case. This is the last opportunity to engage of the Minister before the end of the year and I ask him to commit to providing a choice. There will be those who are happy to accept some form of redress but many others want the opportunity of a court process as they feel only that process will enable them to fully vindicate their right to the truth and justice. In order to facilitate a significant number of them, the suspension of the Statute of Limitations, in particular for that cohort of victims, is required. I ask the Minister to reflect on that and keep an open mind on it even though I do not expect a response this afternoon. Hopefully, in early 2013, he will provide a choice for the ever reducing number of very unfortunate people.

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