Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá ceist fíorthábhachtach agam maidir le Riar na hOibre an lae inniu. Baineann sé le mná atá fós i ndrochstaid sa Stát seo.

My question concerns the Government's decision to proceed with the redress scheme for the victims of symphysiotomy. When will the Government announce further details of the scheme? There has been an unnecessary and inexcusable delay when one considers that many of the victims are elderly and some are in poor health. I know from meeting them in my constituency that many are very frustrated and their families are very upset. Some victims have welcomed the redress scheme but many others are angry and unhappy. The Taoiseach may know that the ICCL has strongly backed the victims, particularly with regard to the refusal of the Government to lift the statute of limitations and allow victims, if they wish, to choose whether to go to court or take a different course of action in order to get closure. The Government has denied victims who wish to go down the legal route their day in court. We have all said this is a barbaric practice, but these women have been denied their entitlement to take the legal route if they so wish. Is é mo bharúil féin ná go bhfuil sé sin thar a bheith mícheart. Tá sé de cheart ag na mná seo a gcás a dhéanamh sna cúirteanna má tá sé sin de dhíth orthu. Will the Taoiseach's officials meet with the victims of symphysiotomy to discuss these concerns?

My second question concerns the commitment in the programme for Government to support the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement. The Taoiseach will know, as it was announced by the Government, that talks are due to start, which I very much welcome. I also welcome the interest shown in this by the US Administration. I was, like the Taoiseach, in the US last week and talked to many opinion makers there about the need for this to happen. Can the Taoiseach confirm that the Irish Government will raise the failure of the British Government and others to implement key aspects of the Good Friday Agreement? The Government is a co-equal guarantor to the Agreement. Issues such as Acht na Gaeilge, the lack of a bill of rights, the lack of an inquiry into the killing of Pat Finucane, the lack of a North-South consultative forum and numerous others remain. The Taoiseach will also be aware that there is an anti-Agreement axis which is trying to hollow out the provisions of the agreement and undermine the institutions. Will the Taoiseach make it clear that the planned talks must take place free from threat and without precondition, and that they should be time-bound and commence as quickly as possible? Will the Government act as defender, guarantor and champion of progress in the North and hold the British Government to account for its failure to implement key aspects of the agreement?

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