Ms Mary Lou O'Kennedy:

I also wish to point out that a five-year duration was put on the scheme itself. It is important to remember that, as Mr. Flaherty told us that one survivor said, the consequences are lifelong. Provision in this regard should, therefore, be left open indefinitely for any survivors not aware of it during the period specified. I say that because many of the survivors are not part of networks and are not aware of the scheme. A great deal of outreach must be done, especially internationally, in a proactive way to ensure those survivors are made aware of this scheme. Before I came in here today, I spoke to someone in a different context entirely. He shared with me that his mother told him last year on her deathbed that she had had a baby in one of the mother and baby homes. Her son is now aged 50, and it is only now that he has become aware of what happened. Many of the survivors do not wish to talk about their experiences and have not shared accounts of what happened to them. For many of the survivors we spoke with, it was their first time sharing their stories and being in a group helped them. The solidarity we spoke about is so important. It is crucial, therefore, to remember that the legacy of these experiences continues to be felt by many people. There are impacts over lifetimes and intergenerationally. A five-year window does not seem to respond to that issue. This is something to be considered.