Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Further to the cases I outlined earlier, Judge Clarke has dismissed claims regarding urinary incontinence as a direct consequence of the invasive procedure, arguing that it is just as likely to be a product of the ageing process, and has disputed claims of mental ill-health resulting from symphysiotomy. I do not know anyone else who would dismiss victims' claims of depression, anguish and social withdrawal. Let us not forget that the UN Human Rights Committee has condemned this so-called surgery as torture.

I do not doubt that the Minister believes the response he has given but I ask him to heed the voices not of this Deputy, but of the women who have spoken to me in this institution and elsewhere. If he has a difficulty in doing that, a number of them are currently in the Gallery and they can inform him personally about the reality of their experiences. It is not good enough for the Minister to simply accept that everything is well and is going as he intends. Nothing could be further from the truth. I invite him to make an intervention to ensure that the process is indeed non-adversarial and has the compassion required.

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