Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 12:

In page 14, lines 7 and 8, to delete “with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform”.

The specific inclusion in multiple sections that an intervention is only possible with consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is a clear and disgraceful indication of the priorities with this legislation. It shows that financial issues are given consideration equal to if not greater than justice issues. This feature contradicts the committee's recommendation that there should be no attempt to avoid action at sites for financial reasons. Cost or economic impact should not be a basis not to intervene. Human rights and transitional justice standards require the interventions should take place when the criteria are met, not if a Minister is prepared to fund it. This Bill appears to be about money and not justice.

Any intervention at a site must legally get the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and as I said during the debate on Second Stage, this hurdle is deeply troubling given what we have discovered about that Department's position on the mother and baby homes redress scheme. Officials in the Department were central to the requirement for individuals to have spent at least six months as a child in a mother and baby home and for the highly insulting €5,000 redress for survivors. The Department has already made clear that money is its main concern, not justice. It also delayed the progress of the scheme. This Department will now be given a veto on intervention at every site.

Transitional justice and an obligation for truth are clearly not priorities for the Department. Survivors and campaigners have been scared enough through interactions with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and other Departments and bodies. Now they will also be required to jump through hoops with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The veto of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be removed.