Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

However, it is such a good news story that it is worth repeating, but I will not go on at length.

The Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, will be in the House this afternoon for statements on public transport. Some very valid points have been made, particularly by Senator Rose Conway-Walsh, about rural development and sustaining rural communities. All transport services cannot be Dublin or even city-centric; they must be provided countrywide. I hope we will have a full attendance to put all of these questions to the Minister when he comes here in a few hours. We will have the opportunity to ask him questions and I look forward with interest to seeing the participation of all parties and Senators.

A story appeared in a number of national newspapers yesterday and has been echoed in the media today. I refer to the scandal of the historical drug trials that took place on children in State care in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The former Ministers Ms Mary Harney and Deputy Micheál Martin initiated a number of statutory inquiries but they all came to nothing. The newspapers yesterday contained a story about mother and baby vaccine trials, with files in Bessborough allegedly being altered in the 1960s. These are very serious allegations. I have been deeply involved in a campaign based on my personal experiences over many years. The Laffoy commission investigated elements of three samples of the alleged drug trials and substantial documentation was secured on court proceedings. This is a really important case, not only for the Bessborough home in Munster, one of the trial areas looked at by the former Minister Deputy Micheál Martin. The matter needs to be reopened. I intend to use Private Members' time to raise a number of issues and share them with the House. I appeal to the Leader to ask the Minister to investigate them. I have today drafted a letter that I will send to the Minister and copy it to the Leader. This is an important issue that we need to discuss in the Seanad.