Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity of speaking in this important Private Members' debate on the survivors of symphysiotomy.

I thank and commend all of the survivors for their great work, dedication, perseverance and courage in bringing forward this issue after many years of hard suffering and pain. In the past I have supported these women and I support the Bill. I also thank and commend all of my colleagues in the Dáil from all political parties and my Independent colleagues for sticking together and supporting these women.

Today, at 4 p.m., I listened to the women again make their case for justice and fairness. I agree with Dr. Andrew Rynne when he stated that their trust was betrayed and there was no justification for what happened, except a ridiculous morality or a weird view of family planning. They were like lambs to the slaughter and there was no justification for this practice. At today's meeting, Catherine from Ballyfermot described in detail the horrific experience, the significant pain for three days at the age of 29, and then that it was six weeks before she came out of the hospital. Catherine has suffered since. It was inhuman and it was a grave injustice. Rita from Monaghan described in detail her harrowing experience and how nobody told her husband what they were going to do. It was barbaric and she did not see her baby for two days. That was the reality for these women.

It is up to all Members of the Dáil and Seanad to support these women. That is what I am doing here tonight, I am joining my colleagues in supporting this legislation. The decision to lift the Statute of Limitations for survivors now firmly rests with us all. A large number of Deputies, as the women will be aware, have been most supportive. The all-party Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, of which I have the honour of being a member, unanimously supported this initiative.

Returning to the core issue, I listened to the plight of the women. The breaking of the pelvis generally left women disabled, in pain, incontinent, their lives damaged, their babies occasionally injured - sometimes fatally. Ireland was the only country in the developed world to practice these high-risk operations in the mid-to-late 20th century in preference to caesarian section. Doctors hostile to birth control used a scalpel or saw to control women's reproductive behaviour. These were involuntary surgeries, performed in all but a clandestine manner. Patient consent was never sought and almost every women left hospital not knowing her pelvis had been broken.

The demand by survivors for truth and justice has been stonewalled since 2002. Instead of an independent inquiry, there was a whitewash report which stands over surgeries that were condemned last year by the Supreme Court, which found that it was not a generally approved practice.

There is significant international support for these women and it is important that they know that is the case. Some 22,222 people in 68 countries have supported this group, including 490 doctors. Tonight, historically, all Members of the Dáil have united to support the women in their efforts.

I usually have a go at the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister of State on other issues, but I commend them on and thank them for their efforts on this issue and also for not dividing the House. I pay tribute to and thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for the magnificent work he has done on this issue, rallying us all together on it. I thank and commend all the women present in the Gallery tonight and I promise them my total support.

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