Mary Moran (Labour)

I wish everybody a happy St. Patrick's Day. As I walked to Leinster House this morning it was truly heartening to see so many foreign visitors in the city. I hope we will have a good weekend of festivities, that everybody will be safe and that people will celebrate wisely.

Last night we were briefed on a topic I had raised previously, symphysiotomy. It is welcome that there are to be statements on the subject in the Dáil this morning. However, I reiterate my call to the Leader that we do likewise and hold a debate on these absolutely barbaric procedures carried out on women. There are approximately 150 known survivors. As time is against them, we must solve the problem now. Up to 15 people died before their cases were settled. As I have said previously, symphysiotomy was a barbaric act performed on women in childbirth. What is shocking is that many of them did not even know the procedure had been carried out until years later after the broadcast of the "Prime Time" programme. Last night one woman described how she had watched the programme on television and realised it had had happened to her. It was the reason she was unable to walk and had no control over her body. It is horrendous that the women concerned have not received justice to date. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate on the issue.