Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Okay. I wish to back up the arguments made by Deputy Cullinane. At the end of the day, there is a significant exclusion of all sorts of categories of women from the tribunal. For example, if one's case involves a spouse, one cannot go before the tribunal. That would mean that Vicky Phelan and Jim Phelan and Ruth Morrissey and Paul Morrissey would be excluded from the tribunal were they to try to apply to it. As I stated earlier, if Vicky's case was starting today, she would be totally excluded from it. The other category relates to dependent children in the context of families not being eligible to apply unless the cancer sufferer is dead. That would have excluded Emma Mhic Mhathúna. There is a significant gap in the Bill that does not allow for the representation that is required for families and women. The Minister should address that issue. I will later come to my amendment to section 2.

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