Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have had comprehensive contributions on the malpractice that was discovered in a number of family planning clinics. I was glad that Members from different sides of the House made contributions. I am disappointed by the view that this issue will be swept under the carpet in the hope that it will be forgotten. The difficulty with that course of action is that it will be revisited as a precedent on some future occasion when another issue of malpractice arises in a different area of society. I do not think that is good for the body politic or for democracy. Where malpractice is underpinned by taxpayers' money it must be investigated. That must be conducted in an open and accountable manner. What is more difficult for us to accept is that lives may have been put at risk as a result of the advice that was being provided. As I understand it - one newspaper seems to substantiate the claim - people were being told to tell a lie in particular cases. That could be life-threatening when it comes to a doctor or some other medical adviser. It behoves all in public life to be consistent in requesting an open, transparent and independent inquiry into the information that has been revealed. If that information is not correct, so be it, but it does seem that many allegations can be substantiated. I hope this issue will not be pushed aside with a view to not offending somebody else. If we do that, we will be the victims subsequently when it is used as a precedent in some other case.