Last November, undercover investigators revealed the Irish Family Planning Association clinics, and other clinics that are overseen and funded by the HSE's crisis pregnancy programme, were involved in actively encouraging women in crisis pregnancies to mislead and lie to their doctors about their abortions if complications were to arise after the abortion procedure. The advice was described at the time as reckless and dangerous. Professor Sam Coulter Smith said when the investigation became public that he was aware of cases where women had died because they did not tell their doctors they had an abortion. It is disturbing that such poor advice would be given to Irish women in crisis pregnancies at a time when they are vulnerable and need appropriate advice more than ever.

The finding was just one of a number of disturbing findings revealed in the investigation. It also found the Irish Family Planning Association in particular was in breach of several provisions of the Abortion Information Act 1995. It appears this legislation was being breached on a wide scale. This reflected a high level of contempt for their health and well being, not to mention the law of the land.

Following on from this investigation, a so-called "independent inquiry" was established by the HSE and announced by Mr. Tony O'Brien, head of the HSE and former head of the Irish Family Planning Association. The inquiry was to be chaired by Ms Brigid McManus, a former Secretary General of the Department of Education and Science. Following a parliamentary question from Deputy Terence Flanagan, however, the answer gave the impression the investigation and inquiry has been downgraded to an audit, something entirely different. The inquiry was established in November 2012 and seven months later no significant progress has been made. We have been told the report will be finalised in the next seven to eight weeks. Can the Tánaiste explain the delay in the investigation, given the seriousness of the wrongdoing and the endangering of women's health the undercover investigation revealed? Can he explain why the investigation has been downgraded to an audit? Were the people giving this dangerous information suspended? They should have been suspended, or at that very least, some action should have been taken. Was any part of the €3 million in HSE funding to the offending agencies withdrawn or withheld? If not, why not? Why is the IFPA, a State-funded agency, which has given out life endangering and inaccurate information to vulnerable women and girls in crisis pregnancies, still receiving money when other HSE and other programmes are being targeted? Will the Tánaiste tell us the exact status of the investigation into State-funded crisis pregnancy counselling services?

The Deputy is asking me to give information on an investigation that is still underway. I cannot possibly do that and neither should he prejudice the outcome of any inquiry or investigation that is taking place. We clearly must await the outcome of the investigation. I remind the Deputy that there is legislative provision for the provision of information to women in crisis pregnancies that is in line with the constitutional position and the referendum held on the issue some time ago.

I am not trying to prejudice any investigation, I am trying to deal with the situation where we were promised an investigation and we were told who would head that investigation. In reply to a parliamentary question this week, however, we have been told it is an audit. What hope can any of us have about the sincerity of this Government's claims when it speaks about championing women's health when it has done nothing to address the situation I have outlined today? We have had false promises and misleading information.

We must stop fooling ourselves if we think we are having a real debate about protecting women's lives and health at the moment. A Bill is being introduced today and the Government should stop fooling itself because it is not fooling me or a large majority of the public. Why has the Minister for Health not made a statement on this? The Minister was quick to make statements on the abuses within other State-funded health services, such as nursing homes. Why the silence on this topic at this time, when the Government claims it wants to do its best for women and protect their lives and health? The silence from the HSE since the initial exposé in the Irish Independent of wrongdoing highlights the point I am making. I compliment those who carried out this undercover investigation and Mr. Jim O'Doherty.

We cannot be selective in our concern for women. The Irish public is becoming ever more aware of what is going on and in the interests of democracy the colossal double standards which seem to be underpinning the debate must stop.

Is there a point?

Women and girls in pregnancy deserve better from the Government. I did not get the answer to the question I have asked. Where is the inquiry?

What did Deputy Mattie McGrath do when he had the chance?

Where is the inquiry? Where is it at?

What is Deputy Mattie McGrath trying to imply?

It is now an audit. Why was Mr. Tony O'Brien appointed CEO-----

That is outrageous. He is trying to blacken him.

-----when he was involved in this agency previously? The Tánaiste might answer those questions.

I call the Tánaiste, on a final reply on this.

All I can say is that the Crisis Pregnancy Agency is doing a good job providing support to women in crisis pregnancies.

The Tánaiste is satisfied.

The Dáil question that the Deputy refers to was replied to by the Minister for Health. If there are other issues arising from that question, I am sure that further questions can be tabled to the Minister on it.

Why the delay?

There is not a delay.

Seven months.

Nine months.

There is not, and Deputy Mattie McGrath well knows that.

Of course, there is.

There is information, support and advice that is provided to women in crisis pregnancies, as should be the case.

Of course.

There is a crisis pregnancy agency which has responsibility for the provision of advice-----

Proper advice.

-----and information to women in crisis pregnancies. It works within the aegis of the Department of Health and it is doing a fine job.

In this case, not.

It is not fair for Deputy Mattie McGrath to impugn, either those who are working in the agency-----

I am not impugning anyone; they impugn themselves.

-----or in any other agency by prejudging the outcome of any investigation, audit, inquiry or whatever one might want to call it.

I only want to see the facts.

Deputy Mattie McGrath should at least await the outcome of that before making the kind of allegations or insinuations that he is making in the course of his question here this morning.

That concludes Leaders' Questions. I regret I cannot allow Deputy Finian McGrath the use of the word "lie", otherwise it would be impossible to have a dignified or orderly debate. I ask him to withdraw the word "lie".

I withdraw that word.

I thank the Deputy.

Hear, hear.