Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Sinn Féin and the Technical Group for allowing me some of their speaking time. I particularly want to acknowledge the work done by Deputy Ó Caoláin over a long period of time. I thank him for his diligence and for the thorough and workmanlike way he carried on his business.

I recognise and acknowledge each and every person who is here tonight and who was here last night and acknowledge the horrible suffering they were put through. The Ceann Comhairle very kindly explained to us that we are not to name people under any circumstances but I have permission from a very special lady, Mrs. Nora Mai Kissane, of Kissane's shop in Carnahone, Beaufort, Killarney, County Kerry. This woman is a special friend of mine and she was affected in this way when she was having a child. She bore this trouble for the rest of her life. She raised a fine, respectable family, and worked hard every day. Many of those in the locality and many of those here tonight know what I mean. Her neighbours, however, did not realise the difficulties she faced. She endured those difficulties. I was so proud when she came out when this debate started. She appeared on the front pages of the local newspapers and told her story on Radio Kerry. That created an awareness of what was happening and how it affected ladies, and the awful consequences for them.

I appreciate the Government and the Minister supporting this legislation but I will not go down on my hands and knees to say they are great, because all they are doing is what is right. Let us be clear about that. I will not bring politics into this but when I hear people praising the Government, saying it is so good of it to acknowledge and support this, all it is doing is what is right. It is what it should be doing and if it did anything else, it would be blown out of it.

This was an awful thing and at the back of it, it might have been put down to the church. I stand here tonight supporting the ladies but I am also saying that I believe in God, the church and the Catholic religion for all its faults. That is me and I make no apology for that.

I want to specifically mention Marie O'Connor, who did so much good work over a long period of time, and all of the others, each and every one of them, who put so much time and effort into this. Thanks be to God we are going in the right direction and these people will get redress.

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