Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Mar is eol daoibh, tá Vicky Phelan imithe ar shlí na fírinne ach tá sí láidir beo inár gcuimhní inniu agus i gcuimhní mhuintir na tíre. Ní mór dúinn meas agus ómós a thaispeáint do na focail uaithi, focail a chur in iúl nach raibh moladh á lorg aici ná gealltanais bhréaga. Is é an rud a bhí ag teastáil uaithi ná gníomh de réir ár mbriathar.

Today we remember Vicky Phelan, who has passed away, and all the other women who have lost their lives as a result of the failures and the mistakes made in the cervical screening services.

I am very conscious of the words of Vicky Phelan and what she sought from the system. I know leaders are anxious to say a few words and I will leave it to the leaders to do that. I am mindful of her words that she was not seeking praise, thanks or false promises. What she was seeking was action.

Fágfaidh mé ansin é agus ligfidh mé suas le nóiméad do na ceannairí. Iarraim ar gach duine na focail sin a choinneáil os a gcomhair. I ask speakers to keep those words in mind.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Leas-Cheann Comhairle is correct. Vicky Phelan did not want eulogy or tribute. She did not want us making speeches about her in this House. It was a mark of the woman that even though her life, her illness and, ultimately, her passing was the catalyst for so much, she wanted action and she did not want it to be about her alone. She made an extraordinary impact on her country and contributed to public life and debate. She was committed to righting the wrongs that had such a devastating impact on her and her family's lives. It is right and proper that we mark and mourn her passing.

On behalf of the Government, I extend my deepest sympathies to her husband, Jim; her children, Amelia and Darragh; her parents, John and Gaby; her sister and brothers; and her entire circle of family and friends.

At a personal level, I am deeply saddened at Vicky's passing. She was a woman of extraordinary bravery, integrity and generosity of spirit. I am confident very few people would have been able or would be able to summon the poise, determination, courage and compassion she showed in her battle not just with cancer but also with the system that failed her and so many others so dismally. In her decision to reject the demand for confidentiality in her court settlement, she opened the door to truth for hundreds of other women, empowered a generation of people to demand better and forced a fundamental re-evaluation of the nation's crucially important CervicalCheck programme. Her passion for the principle of full public disclosure in the area of public health has ensured the principle is front and centre as we progress new patient safety legislation, and we need to bring that to a conclusion before the end of the year. Her remarkable advocacy for women has shifted the culture and has made a real and positive difference.

D'fhulaing sí go pearsanta ach bhí sí i gcónaí ag lorg seirbhísí agus cearta níos fearr do mhná na tíre seo. Rinne sí obair den scoth agus gaisce ar son chearta na mban in Éirinn. Bhí sí cróga misniúil agus labhair sí amach ar son an chirt i gcónaí. Ba bhean neamheaglach láidir í a lorg cothrom na Féinne do mhná na hÉireann. Leaba i measc na naomh go raibh aici.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I extend my deepest sympathies and those of my party to Vicky's friends and family, particularly her husband, Jim, and her children, Amelia and Darragh. I met Vicky on a number of occasions and she was one of the most impressive people I have ever met. There was something about her that was hard to define. She is an example to us all, a woman of limitless strength, courage and compassion. Without Vicky, the CervicalCheck non-disclosure debacle would never have come to light. Thanks to her advocacy, we can start to build a better culture in our health service, one that treats patients with respect, which is never paternalistic, gives them all of the information about them that is available and always tells the truth.

In one of her most powerful statements, she demanded action, change and accountability. She did see some of that come to fruition in her lifetime through the implementation of the Scally report. The action taken means a new and more accurate way to examine the smear test is now in place and the vaccine has been extended to boys. In respect of change, funding has been allocated for a new laboratory in the Coombe to reduce the need for outsourcing. In respect of accountability, the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill 2019, which is working its way through these Houses, requires mandatory open disclosure and restorative meetings between women and their consultants. I know that work must continue and it is far from complete. As the Taoiseach said, we must enact the patient safety Bill as soon as possible.

Cervical cancer is a terrible disease, but it is a disease we can eradicate in our lifetime and we should strive to do so.

Before I finish, I restate the apology I made on behalf of all of us, as Taoiseach, to the women and their loved ones who were hurt by the failures in how cervical screening operated in Ireland. When preparing for that apology, I met many of the families whose lives were turned upside down. I know that for those who campaigned and travelled this journey with Vicky, particularly those in the 221+ patient support group, her loss will be more painfully felt than we can ever imagine. I know they will continue to stand up for the women of Ireland and we must continue to listen.

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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Vicky Phelan was and will remain known as a tireless fighter for women, a courageous mother, a fearless CervicalCheck campaigner and someone whose generosity of spirit captured the whole nation. The mother of two's refusal to sign a confidentiality clause and her court action over misread smear tests ultimately exposed what was a system failure of CervicalCheck. Vicky's battle took an enormous personal toll, but that was borne with steadfast and unwavering commitment to the truth. In finding that truth, Vicky has done a great service to all women in this country. I do not think it is yet possible to grasp fully the scale of her contribution to our society.

I am deeply conscious Vicky's wish of the political leaders was not for tributes, but for action, change and accountability. Women should never feel voiceless or invisible. The burden should not have fallen on Vicky to stand up for women and for what is right. We must change. With poise and through her determination and grit, Vicky taught us that. I cannot adequately express my admiration for Vicky's courage, resilience and generosity of spirit. I have heard her friends say she met every challenge with grace and good humour. We are all grieving an enormous loss today.

To Vicky's husband, Jim, and to her beloved children, Amelia and Darragh, I say I cannot begin to imagine the pain and heartbreak they are feeling. I want to say "Thank you" to Vicky and "Thank you" to every person who supported her in her courageous battle to seek the truth for women in Ireland. I will remember and I hope others will remember Vicky's own words from her autobiography:

There will be others who will continue this fight without me when I'm gone, because we are all in this together at the end of the day. We all come from that same place, from a mother's womb. This is everybody's story.

A Vicky, tá muidne, mná na hÉireann, thar a bheith buíoch díot. Labhair tú amach ar ár son uilig, ar son na máithreacha, na hiníonacha, na seanmháithreacha, na gariníonacha, na deirfiúracha, na deirfiúracha chéile, na neachtanna agus na cairde. Fágann tú léas solais i do dhiaidh. Mhúscail do mhisneach misneach ionann. Go ndéana Dia a mhaith ort.

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Vicky said, "The hardest part for me, it's not the dying, it's the leaving my children behind. That's what breaks my heart." Yesterday, at just past midnight, Vicky's battle with terminal cervical cancer ended, her young life ended, her life stolen by a vicious disease, her life stolen by profound failures of the State, of Government and of the HSE. Enormous and endless tributes flow now for this remarkable, irreplaceable woman. She was a study in resilience, determination and grace under pressure. No words of mine will fully capture the depth of her courage or of her love.

No words will fully capture the scale of devastation at her loss for Jim, Amelia, Darragh, Gaby, John and all those who loved her dearly. Ireland has lost one of its brightest stars in the firmament of noble women Ireland. Ireland must not forget. Ireland must change. Safe, respectful healthcare for mná na hÉireann was Vicky's battle cry. Let it echo from the rooftops. The women of Ireland thank you, Vicky. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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On behalf of the Labour Party, I want to express my deepest sympathies to Vicky’s family, in particular to her husband, Jim, her children, Amelia and Darragh, her parents and the extended Phelan and Kelly families. Our condolences also go to all of the 221+ group, Lorraine Walsh, Stephen Teap and to many others, to Vicky's friends and to our own colleague, Deputy Kelly, who was very close friend of Vicky's. Vicky bravely raised her voice. She decided to fight a system that had failed her. As we all know and as is acknowledged today, her activism prompted such a chain reaction that changed Irish society and that changed things for the better for so many women particularly in our health system.

Today I am remembering, as we all are, many of those other activists who also fought for women's health alongside Vicky and who have sadly died, namely, Ruth Morrissey, Emma Mhic Mhathúna, Lynsey Bennett and Laura Brennan. Vicky’s contribution, like theirs, cannot be understated. Since Vicky spoke up in 2018, the number of women going for screening in Ireland has continued to increase. Free smear tests have become available in the wake of the controversy but of course more is needed. The reforms that Vicky and others prompted must continue, the Scally report must be implemented in full and we must see the actions that Vicky so eloquently called for being implemented in full.

She was an inspiration to us all, but it is our responsibility to ensure that her legacy does more than just inspire us and that it feeds further into more actions that need to be taken. As she put it herself:

I don't want your tributes. I don't want your aide de campat my funeral. I don't want your accolades or your broken promises. I want action.

Rest in peace, Vicky. Suaimhneas síoraí dá h-anam dílis.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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The entire nation is united in mourning at the very sad passing of Vicky Phelan. The women of Ireland in particular are grieving her death because she was their champion. She was central to uncovering the CervicalCheck failures. Without her courageous decision to go public about what had happened to her, at great personal cost, the likelihood is that none of us would have discovered the serious issues with the screening programme that were subsequently uncovered.

Vicky was a tireless advocate, not just for herself but for everyone who had been failed by the health service. She was not willing to accept the status quoor the condescending paternalism that women too often experience in the health service when she knew that reform was possible. Even though it was really difficult, she persevered with her campaign until the very end, determined that the promised reform would be implemented. The courage she showed throughout her campaigning for more transparency and accountability in the health service while battling a terminal illness was truly awe-inspiring.

Today, my thoughts and the thoughts of all of my colleagues in the Social Democrats are with Vicky’s husband, her children, her extended family, her many friends and her colleagues in the 221+ group. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis.

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We all knew that this day would come. Her family and close friends knew that this day would come. Vicky herself knew, deep down, that this day would come. We took Vicky into our collective hearts and now all our hearts are broken. I got to know Vicky a number of years ago in relation to the issue around assisted dying and she was vocal about that issue. She said to us that no matter what the circumstances, you need to pledge to keep supporting and campaigning for the issue around assisted dying.

Her other wish was that the cervical screening programme not be outsourced and that it be brought home. That wish needs to be honoured. We owe it to her memory and her family. Our condolences go to Jim, Darragh and Amelia.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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Vicky Phelan was a unique individual and someone who will leave a lasting impact throughout our country and society but in her own words to each and every one of us in Dáil Éireann, she said:

I don't want your tributes. ... I want action. I want change.

As we know, the Patient Safety (Notifiable Patient Safety Incidents) Bill was initiated in the Dáil on 5 December 2019 to provide for mandatory open disclosure, placing a legal obligation on doctors to explain a mistake to a patient impacted by that mistake. The Bill's publication was a complete turnaround from the statement in January 2016 issued by the Department of Health to the effect that it would be counterproductive to enshrine open disclosure to patients in legislation. Open disclosure needs to be embedded in legislation to bring about a complete culture change in our medical profession. The cervical cancer scandal has reinforced the fundamental need for laws of this nature. The Bill was referred to a committee on 12 December 2019, seven days after its publication, and its Final Stages are currently before Dáil Éireann. The late Vicky Phelan said, "I want action." I would ask as a matter of priority that this legislation be passed and enacted before the end of this year, answering Vicky's call, sadly posthumously.

I wish to extend my sympathy and the sympathies of the members of the Regional Group to all the women and their families impacted by the cervical cancer scandal, to Vicky Phelan's family, her many friends and those whom she touched throughout her far-too-short life, but most especially to Jim, Amelia and Darragh. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I want to be associated with the words of sympathy. We were devastated to learn of her passing at the young age of 48. Indeed, the whole country is now one way or another in mourning at the passing of this courageous, heroic and remarkable woman. Vicky Phelan refused to sell her soul for a settlement and she refused to remain silent. Vicky Phelan was not afraid to speak out and she fought hard for some support in fighting her illness and looking after her family, but when a requirement of confidentiality was presented to her, she refused point blank. I salute her for that. She was a woman who knew the difference between what was right and what was wrong.

Vicky Phelan was the victim of failures of clinical governance, failures of leadership and management, as well as failures to tell the whole truth and to do so in a timely manner. This and previous Governments failed Vicky Phelan. The HSE, including its senior leadership, failed Vicky Phelan. This is just not good enough. The Government has failed to respect her wishes and requests. There has been nothing short of deceit and false reassurances, which is difficult to swallow.

After the death of her fellow cervical cancer sufferer, the late Ruth Morrissey, Vicky Phelan wrote two years ago:

I don't want your apologies. I don't want your tributes. I don't want your aide de campat my funeral. I don't want your accolades or your broken promises. I want action. I want change. I want accountability.

Is that too much to look for in this day and age, when we are pandering so much to what we are doing in this century? The change and accountability that she demanded must be delivered. Ministers and other Government politicians can no longer hope that their failure to act will quietly go away.

Vicky Phelan's spirit was untameable and her loss is immeasurable.

So many people have been inspired by her. She will never be forgotten. Her vision and her passion will never be forgotten. Suaimhneas síoraí d'anam Vicky Phelan.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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On behalf of the Independent Group I extend my heartfelt sympathy to the family and friends of Vicky Phelan. Death always comes too soon, but at 48 and after suffering so many years of pain, both physical and mental, it was just heart-breaking for Vicky, for her husband Jim, for her children Amelia and Darragh, for her wider family, and her friends in the 221+ support group.

Vicky will be remembered for her courage in refusing to walk away quietly when she knew that her stand would make a real difference in improving Ireland's cervical screening services. Vicky will be remembered for her brutal honesty regarding her illness. Her words opened the door for other women to speak up and speak out about how certain women's health issues have been hidden as if shameful, and neglected as if they were not important. Vicky will be remembered for her compassion for others and the many ways she reached out giving hope, for it was badly needed.

Vicky was fully committed to all women who were using CervicalCheck, despite the fact that she had been failed in this regard. She also expressed her full support for the human papillomavirus, HPV, vaccine. She saw both of these services as essential to women's health.

Vicky was a strong, warm, beautiful, and tenacious woman. We in this House have a duty to ensure her legacy of a quality cervical screening service and full transparency to patients is ensured. I thank Vicky and may she rest in peace.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Anois, mar chomhartha ómóis do Vicky Phelan, seasfaimid inár dtost ar feadh soicind. Let us stand in respect for and memory of Vicky Phelan.