Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the commitment given by the Minister for Health this evening not to oppose this Bill. I also welcome his intention to deal with this issue and to do whatever is necessary to bring it to a conclusion for those affected by it. I welcome the survivors of symphysiotomy who are in the Public Gallery. I spoke with some of them earlier and know this is an emotional day for them, their families and friends. It was a momentous occasion for the survivors when, in March 2012, the practice of symphysiotomy was debated in the Dáil for the first time. As a new Deputy, elected for the first time in 2011, that was, and remains, the most emotional and poignant debate I have heard in this House.

These women have had to endure tremendous suffering for over 40 or 50 years, due to the practice of symphysiotomy. This procedure, carried out in many cases without the permission of the patient, has left many women with permanent health issues relating to mobility, incontinence, pain and depression. I pay tribute to the women who have come forward and told their stories. They have shown enormous courage and resilience. Every time they recount their story they relive the horror of what they went through. When they speak, they are not just speaking for themselves but sadly, they are also speaking for those who are no longer with us. In the majority of cases, this procedure was carried out over 40 years ago. Some of the women are now in old age and have been campaigning for justice all of their lives. They should not have to wait any longer.

I am a mother of two children. Some of the stories I have heard, of how women were restrained, their arms pulled back and held down for this procedure to take place, made me feel physically sick. It should be a source of shame for us all that women could be treated in such a way in our country. Having a child should be a happy occasion for every family but the sad reality is that this procedure has left women mutilated for life, to the extent that it has dramatically impacted on the quality and enjoyment of their lives.

It has affected women from across the country, including women in my constituency. I recently met a lady in my office who had a symphysiotomy carried out in Drogheda when she was 22. Since then she has been incontinent and battled depression. She was not told she had the procedure carried out and felt she had failed as a woman to have a normal birth and it was her fault. Nobody listened to her and she was told to get on with it and not be making a fuss. One can only imagine the effect this would have on mental health. I spoke to another lady who for 40 years has buried the experience and has not spoken about it because there is a stigma attached to mutilation.

As we are all aware, we are living in extremely difficult financial times but sometimes one must look past the economics of an issue and seek to do what is right. These women deserve justice and an adequate and fair compensation scheme. I commend my constituency colleague, Deputy Ó Caoláin, on bringing forward the Bill. He convened the all-party Oireachtas group of which I am a member and he has put much work into the issue. This matter has cross-party support and I am part of a Government that has not just listened to the concerns of these women but which is prepared and committed to doing something about it. As the saying goes, actions speak louder than words.

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