Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

No problem.

More than a year ago we stood here and saluted the women who have returned to the Gallery this evening. Horror was expressed at the butchery they had endured and Members indicated their shock at how society could have allowed this barbaric practice to go unchallenged. All parties expressed their resolve to rectify the damage visited upon these women and to ensure that action would be taken. In some ways it is shameful that it has taken more than 12 months to reach this point. However, it is also a tribute to the resolve of Deputy Ó Caoláin, primarily, and also to that of the survivors of symphysiotomy who have kept their battle going. Without that resolve, I do not believe we would be here today. While this is a good day - I welcome the fact the Government is not opposing the Bill - it must be stated that this is not the end of a long struggle for justice but hopefully it is the beginning of the end.

Yesterday we listened to Rita and Catherine, who were mutilated over 50 years ago. They have spent more than 50 years living with the pain and scars of what was done to them. Obviously there is nothing we can do which can undo that wrong. However, we can help the women obtain justice. The first step we must take in that regard is to vote in favour of the Bill. The second involves rejecting the claims of the Minister to the effect that this is a flawed Bill. The latter is not the case. The Bill is based on existing legislation relating to those who survived sexual abuse in residential institutions and it must be passed quickly.

We must challenge a number of the other assertions made by the Minister. I refer, for example, to his claim that the relevant services are in place to support these women. The reality is that such services are not in place. The medical needs of the survivors are not - as should be the case and as the Minister claimed - being catered for. I would like the Minister to respond to the fact that the daughter of one of the survivors left the Chamber last evening only to discover that her mother, who is in her 80s, has had her home help hours ended. The standard allocation of home help hours for these victims is one hour per week. This is an enormous issue. Some women are only obtaining 30 minutes of home help time per week. The Minister indicated that independent clinical advice is available for these women. However, they can be obliged to wait a long time to avail of such advice. Their medical expenses are not being refunded and many of them have been obliged to avail of private medical services. The facilities are just not available. Items such as incontinence supplies are provided directly by the HSE but they are of such poor quality that many of the women do not avail of them. If we are serious about giving these women the justice they deserve, then the Minister should agree to have their medical needs met. It is not true to state that the system is honouring them.

Those who say that this happened in old Ireland and that it would not happen now have obviously not tuned in to the inquest into the death of Savita Halappanavar. The medical profession has again displayed the same ethos as previously, namely, that its members know everything. It has dismissed the wishes of women and treated them as if they were commodities or objects to be experimented upon. We must address the fact that the ethos to which I refer continues to hold sway because that is the only way in which we can vindicate and honour the very brave women who are in the Gallery tonight.

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