James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I accept that the Deputy has the interests of the women at heart, as do I. The reality is that many of the women in these cases do not know the doctor concerned, cannot remember the name of the doctor or cannot find notes. The possibility of their succeeding in court is next to nil. Deputy Daly referred to a court case involving a lady who has been very public about her experiences, but it took her 11 years to get a settlement. How many more women will pass away in that period? I am trying to bring closure to this in the quickest way possible for all the women concerned. I realise that for many of them what is suggested, regardless of what it is, will not be a suitable substitute for going to the courts. The case Deputy Daly highlighted was a clear wrong. It was symphysiotomy on the way out, as it is alluded to - in other words, symphysiotomy after the baby had been born - which is utterly inexplicable.

I know the suffering that these women have had and I have heard their harrowing stories. I want to address their suffering by achieving closure of this as quickly as possible. I know I cannot undo the pain they have endured. That pain is physical, psychological and societal in many respects because it limited their ability to socialise. Having said that, I have no wish to pre-empt what the Government might say. We have a report. I wish to take advice from the Government. A memorandum is going to Government shortly. I believe this is the quickest way to expedite the matter for all the ladies concerned. No one is suggesting for one moment that people who wish to go to court would be prevented from so doing.

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