Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to speak on the Bill introduced by Deputy Ó Caoláin. In recent years and especially recent months, as a nation we have heard painful accounts of the hurt and physical abuse many women had to endure at the hands of institutions linked in many cases directly or indirectly to the State.

The particular stories of these women have caused young people to question what kind of society would allow this pain to be inflicted on human beings, mothers giving birth.

Symphysiotomy was a barbaric practice carried out on up to 1,500 women during childbirth which involved a surgeon deliberately breaking the woman's pelvis to make delivery easier. The result for these women was that they were left with permanent illness from chronic pain and, in many cases, were disabled for life. Victims were given no information prior to or after the surgery and there was no informed consent. The psychological, as well as physical, trauma of such a procedure must not be underestimated.

I welcome Deputy O'Caolain's sincere efforts to bring this issue to the floor of the House and commend the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, who has responded in a very positive way. Services available to victims on request include full GMS eligibility on medical grounds. The Department has also commissioned an independent research report on the practice. I further welcome the Minister's decision to accept the Bill, subject to some necessary legal changes and I am sure that the victims will also welcome this as an important step in allowing a change to the law concerning the limitation of actions, as set out primarily in the Statute of Limitations, 1957, as amended.

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