Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

Since I entered the Seanad I have raised one topic consistently, even on a weekly basis, namely, symphysiotomy.

Every couple of weeks for the last three years I have been asking for a report and looking for closure on behalf of the many women who have been affected. I rise to express my disappointment and even despair that we are still waiting closure by the women who have been affected by this barbaric act. I have repeatedly been told that Judge Murphy's recommendations have been with the Government since March. We are still awaiting publication of the Walsh report, which we are told is imminent. I ask the Leader to investigate the position of these reports and seek the immediate publication of Judge Murphy's recommendations and the Walsh report.

Yesterday I met RTE's head of sport coverage in the RTE studios in Donnybrook to hand over a petition I started just over a week ago to urge RTE to provide live coverage of the Special Olympics national finals, which will be held in Limerick this weekend. These games will showcase what is best about our country. They are a good news story and, although I am delighted with the outcome of the petition in that we have secured additional coverage on both television and radio, I lament that the finals will not receive live coverage. As this raises questions of equality, I call on the Leader to arrange an urgent debate on equality in broadcasting. I have raised this issue previously following the Paralympic Games last year and the Winter Special Olympics, which deserved more coverage than it received from our national broadcaster. I would appreciate a debate on the matter.