Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

My point is it is part of a pattern. It has been continued and it has not ended. Previous speakers who the Ceann Comhairle may not have heard of, claimed that this is in our dark past.

Finally, what is the State dishing up to lone parents and, as they used to be termed, so-called "unmarried mothers"? Austerity is what they are dishing up. Lone parents have been the biggest victims of cuts, in particular from the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton. Apparently, when a lone parent's children are aged seven they should be able to mind themselves and the lone parent should be able to go out and get a job even though there is no affordable child care for parents in this country. The brunt of austerity is being borne largely by women - obviously there are men as well - in these situations.

My point, a Cheann Comhairle, is this: it is very relevant. We are meant to be ending a culture where the church controlled people's lives. I am arguing it is continuing. More importantly, the Bill falls a way short of what the Taoiseach promised these women two years ago. The National Women's Council has said it and many of the advocacy groups for the women have said it. I call on the Minister to not carry on this shame and disgrace of penny-pinching. Of course, this is all about money because, for example, these therapies would cost money.

These women deserve to get privileged treatment in the health service after the treatment that they got from church and State in this country and I am quite surprised to see the Labour Party and others standing over it. One of the Labour members stated he was the only person who mentioned the Magdalen women in his manifesto. I think not. There are many on the left, including in the Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit, who championed women's rights over the years, and very little thanks to some of the TDs in this Chamber.

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