Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The finding was just one of a number of disturbing findings revealed in the investigation. It also found the IFPA in particular was in breach of several provisions of the abortion information Act 1995, which I do not think the Minister mentioned tonight, though he mentioned other Acts. It appears this legislation was being breached on a wide-scale basis. This reflected a high level of contempt for the health and wellbeing of the women, not to mention the law of the land. Following on from this investigation, a so-called independent inquiry was established at the time by the HSE boss, Mr. Tony O’Brien, who is also the former head of the IFPA. The inquiry was to be chaired by Ms Brigid McManus, a former Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science.

However, in reply to parliamentary question from the former Deputy, Terence Flanagan, the impression was given that the investigation and inquiry has been downgraded to an audit, which is something entirely different. I raised that in the House countless times with the Taoiseach and then Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, and later on, then Tánaiste, Deputy Burton. The inquiry was established in November 2012 and seven months later no significant progress had been made. I asked the then Tánaiste, Deputy Gilmore, to explain the delay in the investigation given the seriousness of the wrongdoing, which all Deputies are talking about tonight. It is very serious and very wrong to be giving that kind of dangerous advice given the seriousness of the situation.

The undercover investigation had revealed that women’s health was being endangered. It is funny how investigations are picked. All investigations are very important and right. We must condemn, and must have legislation for, any wrong information being giving by anybody on any side. Why was the investigation downgraded to an audit? Were the people giving this dangerous information suspended? They should have been suspended, or at the very least, some action should have been taken. Was any part of the €3 million in HSE funding to the offending agencies withdrawn or withheld? Goodness knows, we need HSE funding for a lot of things. If not, why not? Why is the IFPA, a State-funded agency, which has given out life-endangering and inaccurate information to vulnerable women and girls in crisis pregnancies, still receiving money when other HSE programmes are being targeted and seriously cut?

See this speech in context