Six Counties and CervicalCheck
Senator Devine backed Gavan’s amendment, urged politicians to stop prevaricating on the Six Counties, and called for attention to Northern voices and Irish unity politics. She then reflected on the referendum and the CervicalCheck scandal, citing Emma Mhic Mhathúna and the need for accountability.
I second Senator Gavan's amendment to the Order of Business. I wish the politicians in this Chamber would stop sitting on the fence with regard to the Six Counties.
Comment on this
It is perhaps not a lack of intelligence, although sometimes I doubt that. It is certainly for political point scoring and sound bites. Senators should open their ears, go to the North, listen to what people want and not sit here on their cosy fence and decide what they will try to attack Sinn Féin with. Give it over. It is a record that needs to stop.
Comment on this
I would like to reflect on the year before we break up today. Let us be grateful and thankful to the people of Ireland for the referendum on the eighth amendment. Mná na hÉireann have more autonomy over our bodies and choices. Well done to Senator Black and all of us on voting for the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 last week.
Unfortunately, there are negatives which have been stark and shocking. The first and foremost for me was the CervicalCheck scandal. Emma Mhic Mhathúna, who is now gravely and seriously ill, is asking for laboratories and cytologists to make free their time. She is spending the money that was awarded to her, when she is gravely ill, to try to help the women of Ireland. As she said, we need to do it so the scandal of the 3,000 not yet read or audited will never happen.
Last year, on 20 July, I stood in this Chamber before recess and talked about Linn Dara. I said I would keep talking about it until something happened. Something happened in October. The 11 beds that were closed in the Linn Dara inpatient unit were opened. That was about time. Unfortunately, the day programme is now closed, with the same tactics and ideas of just shutting down vital services for the children of this country, for their well-being and their mental health. When do we ever learn? I thank the HSE staff and those working in chaotic conditions. We need their shoulder to the wheel. Please stick with the HSE until we revolutionise it.
I thank the staff of this House for the smooth management, their absolute understanding and putting us right when we go wrong. I guess they are glad to see the back of us for a while.