Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. The following is for Dr. O'Byrne. I said at the earlier session that as a layperson I felt there was no correlation between length of time and significance of trauma. It must be disturbing for anybody with knowledge or expertise in the area that this rationale was in place. It seems a cruel and arbitrary time limit. I echo the question Deputy Ward put. I imagine that arbitrary distinction would have the potential to retraumatise somebody and cause further harm and hurt. In the previous session, they disregarded or refused to include the time for in utero people, all the evidence-based harm that can cause, including stress and everything, and the suboptimal lifelong outcomes associated with that. Does it have the capacity to retraumatise and cause harm?

Ms O'Kennedy's submission stated only four of the 17 harms identified by survivors were included. The involuntary separation of the mother and the removal of that bond was not included as a harm. Both of these things seem to fly in the face of expertise, evidence and even common sense. Will Ms O'Kennedy speak to what the motivation might have been? Is it an attempt to downplay or suppress what happened or, insofar as Ms O'Kennedy can answer such a question, is it about trying to save money? It seems to fly in the face of reason.