Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I have a different view on this. I recall one newspaper article in which a woman from One in Four supported this legislation. I am of the view that there are survivors who are favourable to this legislation. On the one hand, people are arguing that we cannot trust people in the future while, on the other hand, they are arguing we should abdicate our responsibilities to the legislators of the future. Most people are in favour of retaining the records which means some people will have access. I can understand the argument against freedom of information access to these records now while the people affected are still alive. If it is going to be available to people in the future, then it should be available to the public.

If we were to support this legislation, we would be setting a value, stating the information should be available in the future on the basis of freedom of information but, to keep in mind the sensitivities of the people alive now, it should be made available in 75 years time. That would be taking responsibility as legislators and setting a benchmark rather than leaving it to somebody in the future to set that benchmark.