Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Senator Nash has said, the key thing today is the women who have been affected, the more than 20 women who have died, and the women who generously gave the last part of their lives to raise and highlight these issues. I refer to people like Emma Mhic Mhathúna, who has been spoken about; Julie O'Reilly; and Orla Church, who died during the long process of seeking justice through the High Court system. We hope that as this tribunal begins to operate, which I hope will happen as soon as possible, it will expedite access to justice and support for all women affected by this. This is part of the work to restore trust. I commend Dr. Scally on his report, which was seminal because it pointed to the wider culture of misogyny and of silencing women. Our health service and our culture in respect of women and women's health need to change and I hope this Bill will be one more small building block towards that change and that the recommendations about both this issue and culture and practice in our health service across the board, which will come through from the women who have directly navigated this system, will really be heard and reflected.

Another campaigner and woman affected, Vicky Phelan, has been extraordinarily strong in giving leadership on the HPV vaccine. Women's gynecological and obstetric health is under threat internationally from things such as the global gag rule and the international clampdown on some services available to women. I hope that Ireland will learn from its negative experience. I commend the Minister on having championed the HPV vaccine. I hope Ireland will champion this vaccine and related issues of women's health internationally through our international programme. We have an opportunity to own the mistakes we have made and to allow this to make us a stronger advocate on these issues internationally.

I again offer my condolences to all families who have been affected by this. I thank them for the service they have done this country in terms of bringing us forward.