Over 20,000 people in 68 countries have now petitioned the Irish Government to lift the statute of limitations to allow women damaged by the practice of symphysiotomy many years ago to pursue claims relating to their injuries.

According to the Survivors of Symphysiotomy (SoS) group, lifting the statute bar would enable survivors to litigate  in relation to operations operations that were carried out - covertly in almost every case - some 40 years ago.

Symphysiotomy is a surgical procedure in which the cartilage of the pubic bone is divided to widen the pelvis for childbirth. The procedure caused severe side effects for many women.

Marie O'Connor of SoS said doctors worldwide had expressed shock and horror at these 'gratuitous operations.'

SoS has called on upon the relevant professional medical body, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, to condemn these surgeries, 'which were performed in the absence of medical necessity, and which injured so many women so grievously.'

The international petition was given to the Victims of Symphysiotomy All Party Support Group for presentation to the Health Minister at Leinster House today.

"The State's refusal to deal with this particular form of institutional abuse is seriously damaging Ireland's reputation abroad", Ms O'Connor said.