Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in welcoming two fine Irishmen to the Seanad, namely, Senators Anthony Lawlor and Ian Marshall. They are more than welcome. I am sure we will hear from them and do battle over the coming months. The one thing I would say to them is, "Enjoy it."

We have heard many Members today speak of Vicky Phelan. There are few words that can describe what must have gone through that woman's head. However, there are questions that have to be asked. I am afraid it is all too easy to drag Ministers before different Houses and have them flogged over something that happened. Senior people in the HSE, in the State's defence, took decisions and took the most vicious and aggressive approach to this woman. They have now been beaten into a corner where they are talking about finding some sort of solution for the other women. We must remember sitting in here that there are over 100 women who do not know. Bringing a Minister into any House in order to have a go for the sake of it is wrong. I am not saying that he should not come in and answer questions.

I would like to see the senior people that made decisions. Decisions are made by the administrative side before a Minister is ever contacted. I would like to see what decisions they made, when they made them and from where they took their advice. I would like to know what legal person gave the advice to take this absolutely aggressive approach against a woman who was facing death. That is the question we want to ask. We do not want politicisation of this issue. We want to get to the bottom line. We do not want some long, goddamn inquiry. We want answers now.

The Minister does not get off the hook either. I spoke to some women today who rang the helpline who naturally are beside themselves with worry. One of the statements that has been repeated over and over again is that any woman who wants a repeat test can have it straightaway. I spoke to a number of women today who asked when they could book their test and the answer they got was, "The Government has made that statement but we know nothing about it."We need to get to that answer. Let us not go out of our way to flog a Minister. There are certainly questions and the Minister has responsibility. That is the nature of politics, one takes political responsibility, but there are also administrative people involved. I agree with Senator Conway-Walsh that the head of the HSE needs to consider his position as do several other people, including individuals in the State Claims Agency and so on. It is outrageous bloody behaviour.