Darragh O'Brien (Fianna Fail)

As other Members have done, I welcome all the survivors of what can only be described as a barbaric practice who are in the visitors' Gallery. It is as simple as that. Many of my colleagues have expressed in graphic detail the nature of these actions and their effects on women. I commend the Labour Party for using its Private Members' time to bring the matter to the fore.

It is fair to say that successive Governments and Ministers, particularly since 2003, have kicked the issue to touch. While we must look forward to what can be done in real terms, Senator Moloney hit the nail on the head. As a man and a father I cannot fathom the practices carried out on many of the ladies in the visitors' Gallery and others and some, to whom I have spoken, who live in my constituency in north County Dublin who would have had access to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. I certainly know what a joy it was to have a child on 11 September 2008 when my daughter was born and what that meant to my wife and our family. That such a joyous occasion was destroyed in the main with the consequent pain that lives on, the knock on effect on women's lives, their husband's lives, and their children's lives, is an issue with which the State needs to grapple immediately.

While I have immense regard for the Minister of State with whom we have discussed many issues, particularly mental health, I am somewhat disappointed, not with the Minister of State, that there is no timeline for the publication of a report. I was elected to the other House in 2007 and met survivors of symphysiotomy in late 2008 and 2009 and would have lobbied previous Ministers for Health on the issue. Nothing further has happened since.

With regard to natural justice, one of the striking issues mentioned by Marie O'Connor in her notes is that justice delayed is justice denied. As Oireachtas Members representing the people and citizens of this country, including citizens who have been wronged, the first thing that must be done is the temporary lifting of the statute bar. If the Government will not do it, a redress board must be established immediately. We know about the delays with the report. Last February, the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, made some comments that I disagreed with completely because it was not standard practice and nor should it have been. I know the Minister of State well enough to know that she will drive the matter. She has the full support of my party, my spokesperson this evening, Senator Mark MacSharry, who spoke on it, and me as leader of the Fianna Fáil Party group. I know previous governments have failed these women. They and their families have been failed and it falls to us to address it. At the very least, we need a timeline for the report and a commitment from the Government that it is willing to temporarily lift the statute bar to allow the people affected to move on. I was shocked by what Senator van Turnhout said about the experience of a lady just last week when she tried to avail of an X-ray. We are not talking about thousands of women here. Unfortunately, the other 1,300 women whom we reckon underwent the procedure have passed on and there are about 150 left. We should not be talking about the issue in a year's time. I do not want to debate the matter again in the Seanad Chamber, not to avoid giving a voice to everyone that is here but because I would rather the Government delivered the report, implemented its recommendations, lifted the statute bar and gave a commitment that it will ensure that the needs of the remaining survivors of symphysiotomy are looked after quickly and within a stated timeline.

I have a difficulty with the Minister of State's speech today, although I recognise that she is under some constraints. I am certain that if she was not she would be much more forthcoming. At this stage we need action and not another report or debate. As someone rightly said, it was only after the "Prime Time" report in 2010 that people realised the difficulties suffered by these women emanated from what should have been the joyous occasion of the births of their children. It was ruined. All of us are in agreement on this matter and I want the Minister of State to set a timeline. When will a report reach Cabinet? When will it make recommendations that will be implemented swiftly? The Cabinet can deal with this matter quickly. Successive Governments have made swift decisions on urgent matters for this country. I repeat Marie O'Connor's words that justice delayed is justice denied. Let us set a very strict timeline here and make recommendations. We can discuss them, but I want to know when action will be taken because these women and their families deserve some closure and assistance with this issue.