Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

On 22 October 2019, the Tánaiste apologised for the humiliation, disrespect and deceit shown by the State to the more than 1,000 women in the cervical cancer scandal. In May 2018, he stood up in this Chamber and made a promise to the women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy that they would not have to go to court in order to get justice. Patricia Carrick from Galway sadly passed away last year, only a month after she won her case in the courts. Patricia was one of many women who had to battle in the courts for justice, often suffering from great ill health, right up to the point of losing their lives. The Taoiseach stood up in the House and apologised to Patricia on behalf of the State.

Statistics released to me this week by the State Claims Agency show that since those apologies and promises that no woman would be forced to go through court, a total of 310 women or families have been, in fact, forced to go through the courts or take legal routes to achieve justice. Tragically, 38 of those claims relate to women who have already died. A total of 77 cases have been lodged this year alone. Meanwhile, the CervicalCheck tribunal, which was established by the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has so far received eight claims. We all know what happened with the tribunal. The Minister ploughed ahead with it, ignoring the advice of the 221+ group. He disregarded the concerns and did not listen appropriately to the women affected. In an obvious attempt to attract more claims, the Government extended, by way of legislation before the recess, the time period by which women could make claims to the tribunal.

We are all too familiar with how cruel the court experience is for these women, with the State fighting them for months and years and, in some cases, only settling when it becomes apparent the women in question have only days to live. We are all too familiar with the names of the women. We are all too familiar with the frequent news reports featuring their images, often showing a young woman with young children, standing frailly but courageously outside a court. These women should not have to spend the last months of their lives on earth in a courtroom. They should be allowed to enjoy those months with their children and family. They should have the mental comfort and assurance that their children and family will be looked after when they are gone.

Regarding the tribunal, it is clear that women are voting with their feet. A total of 77 women this year have opted to go through the courts or legal routes. Only eight have opted to go through the tribunal. At this stage, will the Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, not concede that the tribunal has failed abysmally?

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