Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This Bill seeks to extend the operation of the CervicalCheck tribunal until January 2022 and to provide for an additional extension to July 2022, available at the discretion of the Minister for Health. Of course I support this Bill. It makes sense for the period of time in which a compensation claim can be lodged to be extended significantly if we consider the fact that, up to two months after its establishment, the tribunal had not received any claim whatsoever. This clearly demonstrates the job of work to be done on the Government's behalf. This was unusual in and of itself in that, following Vicky Phelan’s journey for accountability, more than 100 women came out and revealed that they were in the same situation. The whole thing reeks of a lack of respect and due diligence for women’s health. We have, lamentably, seen this on countless occasions in the history of this State. Women, their bodies and their reproductive rights have suffered insult after injury, with salt repeatedly rubbed on the wound.

The fact that the consultation between the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, and representatives of the 221+ support group, which was intended to provide meaningful engagement between the Minister, his Department and the women impacted, broke down and did not conclude in satisfaction for the advocates involved does not bode well for respectful handling of the cervical smear scandal. The least these women deserve is an extension of time and for that reason I support this Bill and the proposed new timeline.

However, it is not as if all is well in the world of women’s health. Due to Covid-19 and limited HSE services, many constituents who have come to me are seriously anxious about the fact that their scans and appointments have essentially disappeared, with appointments for March of this year being rescheduled for May of next year and the likes. As the Minister can imagine, this does not inspire confidence that hard-learned lessons are being heeded.

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