Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

For some of us, it is not an intellectual argument as some of us know intimately some of the people who went through these experiences. Anyone who has been involved in politics will have met many of the survivors groups. Like it or lump it, we agreed to the legislation. As legislators, we are saying that we are conscious of the impact on survivors. That is my main concern. I do not want to compound the hurt of anyone who has been hurt. We gave them guarantees that we would take a particular route, even though some of us might not have agreed that some groups or individuals were excluded from some of the redress schemes established but that is an argument for another day. What we are saying is that we know best but I genuinely do not think I can make that decision on behalf of those individuals. In 75 years' time, if legislators decide to open it up, that will be a matter for them but we gave that guarantee.

Again, I did not agree with the confession box system where one could tell one's story but it would never be on record. That did not work for many people. The processes which we established did not work for many people. I have met quite a number of people over recent years who curse the day they actually went to these different structures because it opened up old wounds and did not make them feel better. What impact will this legislation have on many of these individuals? If it is only one that says he or she does not agree with this, we have to take cognisance of that individual’s position.