Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I too am delighted to contribute to the debate on the Bill. I compliment Deputy Ó Caoláin on his persistence in championing the cause of those victims who fought long and hard to see this day dawn. It is a pity that so many previous Governments, Members of the Oireachtas and the HSE ignored this long-standing problem. It is sad that so many of the victims have gone to their eternal reward and that only 200 survivors remain. The Government has been magnanimous in accepting the Bill. I accept that it is very late in the day but we should accept that magnanimity nonetheless. We must ensure that compensation and redress are provided swiftly and that there are no further delays or hindrances to justice for these women, who had appalling damage inflicted upon their bodies by the State. The word "barbaric" was used by previous speakers to describe what happened to these women and there is not doubt that it was barbaric. Since becoming a Member of the House, I and other colleagues have met the victims. I salute them and their families. What they have lived with for decades is simply appalling. There is no way that anything of this nature should ever be allowed to happen again in this country.

I again compliment Deputy Ó Caoláin on persisting with this matter and on drafting the legislation, which has been accepted by the Government. I hope there will be no further delays and that the Government, which displayed magnanimity in accepting the Bill, will take action and will insist that the HSE does likewise. I hope those of the victims who remain alive will obtain justice.

We should also pay a fitting tribute to the many victims who have gone to their eternal reward.

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