Ms Laura McGarrigle:

In terms of the rational for the six month requirement in respect of children who were formerly resident in one of these institutions, the first thing to mention is that the interdepartmental group that developed detailed proposals for the Minister and the Government would have very much understood this payment scheme to be just one measure in the broader action plan that seeks to respond through an array of different measures to the concerns and the needs of survivors and former residents.

This is only one remedy that is being proposed. In that regard, the importance of access to records and information was noted, particularly as an overriding concern for those who were resident as infants in mother and baby homes for less than six months. The overwhelming need that has been expressed is for access to records and the real trauma that has been expressed is caused by the denial of access to information from that period in their lives. The Birth Information and Tracing Bill is the key mechanism to respond to those concerns. Alongside it, the IDG has noted the paramount importance of the action plan providing for counselling support for every single survivor and former resident in a mother and baby and county home so that counselling support is there for everyone.