Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)

I thank everyone who has contributed to this debate. I welcome the people in the Gallery. I recognise some of them from previous debates on this issue. More than anything else, the contributions we have heard show that we are all of one voice on this issue. We want to ensure that the women who had this horrendous procedure imposed on them get justice. The procedure was not requested. Who would request it? It must be about justice. A great deal of suffering has been endured over the years by those who were subjected to this procedure. In many cases, it has detracted from their enjoyment of their families, which is something we all expect to have. We need to acknowledge the great hurt and damage that was inflicted on them.

Senator Cullinane has called for a sworn public inquiry to be established. I remind him that this country has not had great experience with such inquiries. Given that speed is of the essence, that is not the way we should go. During the 12 months since this Government came to office, we have had to deal with many legacy issues. This is one of the most horrendous issues we have come across. We are desperately trying to grapple and come to terms with other issues like the Magdalene laundries and the Bethany Home.

The Walsh report will be with stakeholders, the most significant of whom are the women involved, by the end of the month. We must then have a two-month period in which submissions or reaction to that report come back to us, which is right as issues may arise with which those involved will not agree and which we will have to tweak or reconsider. When it comes back to us, we will need to take another look at it but there will be no delay from our side - the women have received that assurance not just from me but from the Minister. While they have rightly pointed to the delay that occurred, that was in regard to gathering the information.

If there are people out there who have files, they should please submit them. It has been too long and too tough a road for these people to have further delays now. Was it Joyce who said that too long a suffering makes a stone of the heart? It does. This has gone on for too long. We need to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion in regard not just to the women but to everyone else involved. If there are people out there who have information, my message is "Do not let this die with you, please come forward."

I congratulate the Senators who brought forward the motion so we can debate the issue and I pay tribute to the courage of the women involved. Having spoken to most of those women, I know it was difficult at that time to go home and talk about the details of what happened in childbirth or other private, intimate details. To be able to speak about it openly and honestly takes a great deal of courage - I know that. The fact we are all here today is some sort of reward and recognition but we need to bring this to finality and, hopefully, have a conclusion that will be of benefit to everyone.

The House has my assurance that the Walsh report will not be delayed. The input of the women involved will form part of the recommendations that will come from the report and, for our part, there will be no delay. I hope we can all reach a satisfactory conclusion because the women deserve no less. I do not go to all of the briefings because I have already heard the stories, which I find quite harrowing. I can only imagine what it must be like to have to live with this. Even in my imaginings, however, I do not think I would come anywhere close to it. I assure the women involved that we will bring this to finality as quickly as possible.