Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Minister has not answered many of the questions asked. She has said she is considering providing these services outside legislation, but she has not said she will provide them for the women in question. She referred to the Health (Amendment) Act 1996, of which section 2(f) refers specifically to counselling services in respect of hepatitis C and section 2(g) to such other services as may be prescribed. Mr. Justice Quirke referred specifically to section 2(g) and the need to include services for the family, but that provision is not included in this legislation. Women want to see this provision made for their families. The HAA card covers counselling for the card holder and family members.

On the issue of hospital treatment, will Magdalen women receive an appointment within two weeks? This is within the remit of the HAA card and pertinent to Magdalen women.

Massage, reflexology, acupuncture, aromatherapy and hydrotherapy are not "angel" therapies. The Minister seems to be trying to imply that this area needs to be examined. The HAA card makes specific provision for complementary therapies and currently covers reflexology, aromatherapy, massage, acupuncture and hydrotherapy. The Minister seems to be implying that some of these are therapies specific to hepatitis C sufferers. Will she specify which is specific? No reference is made to angel card readings or anything like them. This service was offered by the hepatitis C organisation to its clients or members as an extra from the HSE funding it received, but it was not part of what was covered by the HAA card. I cannot understand the reluctance to clarify these issues for the Magdalen women. They expected, having signed away their right to challenge the State, that they would receive the services included in the provisions made for them.

To return to the issue of counselling, the HAA card covers counselling services provided without charge for all HAA cardholders and their immediate relatives. The 1996 legislation refers to counselling services in respect of hepatitis C, while paragraph (g) refers to such other services as may be prescribed. This allowed the then Minister to look at other services that could be covered by the HAA card.

I cannot understand the reluctance also to say liaison officers will be allocated to the Magdalen women. On page 35 of his report Mr. Justice Quirke referred to the importance of liaison officers and said they fulfilled an important role and were responsible for co-ordinating and assisting cardholders to access primary care services. He said liaison officers were provided to ensure cardholders received the services to which they were entitled and to provide advice and assistance in accessing these services. This provision is specific to HAA cardholders. Why can we not have the same provision for the Magdalen women? If the Minister cannot include this in the legislation, will she clarify that they will be provided with liaison officers. The provision of this service should not present an extra cost. The liaison officers working with HAA card patients could easily take on the few Magdalen women who need to access such officers.

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