Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are no words and I accept that, but the actions of which the Minister speaks are not meeting the challenge. Emma was hugely complimentary about her own GP and her gynaecologist this morning, but that GP, like all others, received a proper information pack only last night on how to deal with the avalanche of concerned inquiries in their surgeries. That took two weeks. The professionalism of Emma's team will not make it any easier for her at 37 years of age. She said this morning that the State had failed her and let her down and she said the Government was not capable of minding us. When the director general of the HSE was challenged about this interview this morning against the background of everything that has been caused by this controversy, he accused Deputy MacSharry of causing and spreading hysteria. He takes no accountability, however, for his own role in this.

We do not need words and promises or shouting or roaring in the Chamber, we need action which shows Emma, Vicky, Stephen and all of the affected women that this Legislature and each and every Member who has the honour to be here understands where they are. We will never be able to walk that journey with them, but do we understand as politicians where they are and get why they need accountability? They may not see the end of an inquiry and the report which is produced. For the sake of our country, I ask the Minister please to demonstrate that the Government is capable of dealing with this.

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