Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá sé tábhachtach aitheantas a thabhairt don Teachta Ó Caoláin de réir an obair a dhein sé chun tacú leis na mná agus chun an ábhar seo a chur chun cinn. Lean sé ar aghaidh nuair a bhuail sé le fadhbanna agus le deacrachtaí. Tá sé uafásach scéalta na mban seo agus sonraí an ghnáthaimh seo a léamh.

Deputy Ó Caoláin has been relentless in pursuing justice for the women. In spite of the many difficulties and frustrations he has experienced over the years, he never gave up. Having read the women's stories, I find it horrifying to imagine the procedure. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to have gone through it. The one word to describe the procedure is barbaric. It is very difficult to reconcile that barbarism with what we associate with the medical profession. Doctors swear the hippocratic oath, which is basically about practising medicine ethically and honestly. While there are variations of the oath, I read today a comment that warmth, sympathy and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug. Warmth, sympathy and understanding were very sadly lacking for the women involved. I join others in acknowledging the women present in the Gallery who suffered that cruelty. I acknowledge their pain - for many of them their acute continuing pain. They have got on with their lives throughout all that pain through perseverance and the great support they give each other.

Deputy Ó Caoláin mentioned mutilation, which is also an apt word for a procedure that unhinged the pelvis, severed joints and sundered pubic bones. Some women ended up permanently disabled, incontinent and in pain. Very sadly, some women lost their babies following the procedure. It was an operation that was undertaken with no explanation given to the women as to what was happening - never mind why it was happening.

The last time we discussed the matter the Minister made certain statements about this being a standard operation, mostly used as emergency surgery and safer than a caesarean section. He did not accept then that this was a barbaric act. However, all of that was refuted by Ms Marie O'Connor, who made very detailed comments about each of those points. I listened to the Minister's speech from my office after I had to leave the Chamber. I acknowledge that he made a commitment to deal with the issue sensitively and fairly, which is why he is accepting the Bill. It is a major achievement to have this agreement. It is a tribute to the women that this support has been agreed.

The Minister said Deputy Ó Caoláin's Bill contains some flaws. Regardless of the flaws, the Bill must achieve its objectives, which starts with lifting the current Statute of Limitations. However, there is an urgency about this - I say this with no disrespect to the women - given that the women are of advancing ages and cannot continue in the limbo they have been in for so long. Health services must be provided to meet their health needs. I read a comment from a medical person who stated he felt this was a stain on Irish medicine. This is an opportunity to get rid of that stain from Irish medicine. Overall, Irish medicine does not deserve that stain. It beggars belief that it ever went down the road of symphysiotomy.

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