Deputy Dara Calleary please thank you okay Ceann Comhairle, as elected
representatives we have the honour in this house. I've been given
responsibility to debate issues and to introduce legislation to improve the
lives of our citizens, to improve the life of a country. There will always be
political differences, it's a political job where we have heated debates or be
slugging matches but overall everybody here is committed to actually trying to
make a difference to make a positive difference in the communities we also
have to take into consideration how the public who elect us and who we serve
believe an issue should be dealt with. Over the past two weeks Minister there
have been heated exchanges about the chaotic irresponsible nature cervical
check have handled cervical smears this was brought to
public life by Vicky Phelan, who was forced to take her case and just had her
story to the High Court but the bravery that she showed has now
opened up so much developments in terms of scoping inquiries, processes data
collections inquiries into laboratories here & the USA. But at all times I felt
it was very little discussion on women and on the impact on women 17 of these
women are already dead. The courage of Steven Teap and telling the story of
...his wife Irene is amazing, and he and 17 families are now digesting the
fact that their wives or their mothers could've had a better prognosis a better
chance in life had there's smear been read properly. However, this morning in a
case any of us were in any doubt about the impact of these mistakes
the interview on Morning Ireland by Audrey Carver with Emma Ní Mhathúna
would have blown that complacency away. It's an interview that would stay with
anyone who heard it. It sears the soul of our country. It's hard not to be
completely distraught... distraught Minister. The devastating heartbreak that
Emma and her family are facing, and there are no words that anybody can say that
would console her her five children her family or her friends. She articulated a
the hurt... she was told in
2013 that her smear test was normal yet she was diagnosed with cervical cancer
in 2016. yesterday she met her own GP who told
her she had terminal cancer it had spread to her bones and she waited until
their child's confirmation which was held on Tuesday was over to get that
news her GP told her and her gynecologist confirmed that if her smear
test was read accurately, that she would not be facing this diagnosis. In her
own words Minister, she said I am
dying and I don't need to die. She's 37, she's five children one of whom is a
baby and she said I don't even know if my baby will remember me. I don't even
know if my baby will remember me. Minister the time for defiant defense is
over. It's no time to defend the random anymore defend the government defend the
agency. Please stop, please stop as a government and listen... but more
importantly hear, hear the story of Emma. The story of Vicky Phelan. The story of Irene Teap.
And all of the women and all of the women who are currently going through
this journey at the moment. Emma's only one story in an ocean of
anguish minister. I want you to give your thoughts and whether all of these
women have been failed by the state and do you believe there should be
accountability & should there be accountability now. There are no words
Minister, and I accept that but the actions you speak about are not meeting
the challenge. She was hugely complimentary this morning about her own
GP about her gynecologist but her own GP, like all other GPS in the country only
got proper information back last night as to how to deal with the
avalanche of concern. To have in their surgeries two weeks two weeks after this
case.... the professionalism of Emma's team isn't going to make it
easier for her. At 37 years of age and what she said this morning, she said the
state had failed her & let her down. And she said the government is not actually
capable of minding us. Yet this morning at The Public Accounts Committe, the DG of the HSE
was challenged about his interview. Against against the background of all of that
has been caused by this controversy he is defiant about causing of
causing hysteria and spreading hysteria. Yet he won't take accountability for
his own role in this Minister. We don't need words,
we don't need promises, we don't need shouting or roaring in this chamber. We
need action we need action that will show Emma, that will show Keith and show
Stephen and all of the affected women that this house... that this legislature
that each and every one of us here who were given the honor, being in here
where we actually understand.. we'll never be able to walk that journey
with them but as politicians do we guess where they are and understand
why they need accountability. Because they may not see the end of an
enquiry. They may not see the report. Minister please please for
the sake of our country show that as a government that you are actually capable
of dealing with this.