Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The issue of protecting the right to a good name raises a very important point. Information in those records, such as allegations of abuse, may potentially read as statements of legal fact, rather than a statement of testimony and evidence from victims of abuse in those institutions. Some allegations of abuse were never contested but may be denied. To what extent can it be made clear in 75 years that the records are not legal findings of guilt but a record of evidence? It is a moot point but it is interesting to consider the right to a good name. We are all asking the questions. I understand that we want to protect and preserve, and we want people to be informed about what happened. That is why history is so important, although the Labour Party and our last Minister for education did not think it important enough to be a core subject.