Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I move amendment No. 1:

In page 3, line 15, to delete "17 September 2011" and substitute "17 September 2013".

The amendments speak for themselves, although I acknowledge the Minister of State referred to this issue in his Second Stage reply. I seeking the extension of the scheme from 17 September 2011, as proposed by him, to 17 September 2013. The redress board is still processing a backlog of more than 1,000 applications. However, late applicants can only apply for compensation if they can prove exceptional circumstances, which usually means where physical or mental illness prevented them from applying sooner. Now even that avenue will be closed to victims if the proposal is passed. When the Ryan report was published in 2009, Irish centres were inundated with inquiries from people seeking redress. Many of them had lost all contact with Ireland. They knew nothing about the redress board and were unaware of the right to apply for compensation. Many of the people who came forward left Ireland and cut themselves off. They wanted to put Ireland behind them and, therefore, they stayed away from Irish groups and societies.

I have serious problems with how the scheme is being advertised, although I acknowledge it is a separate issue and the Minister of State said he will address it. I agree with colleagues about the cut-off date in this regard.

It is wrong to close the redress board to victims of abuse and I am seeking to extend the closing date to September 2013. I echo the calls survivors' groups made in 2009 when the Ryan report was finally released to the public. According to Right of Place, at least 150,000 children and teenagers went through orphanages and it is estimated 100,000 left Ireland afterwards, with at least half travelling to the US. There has not been a significant take-up. This September is not the right time to close the scheme, particularly in the context of the release of the Cloyne report yesterday. It took Mr. Justice Ryan ten years to produce a report. Surely, we can give the victims in this situation time to come forward. One woman mentioned in the Cloyne report said it took her 40 years to report what she had gone through.

The purpose of the amendments is to give space to victims who were clearly wronged and not to drag out the scheme. There are people out there whom we have not been in touch with. Many people have not heard about the scheme or may not be mentally in a place where they can come forward to tell their story. However, I am also conscious that we need to give space those who have not had the opportunity or who may not be in the correct frame of mind. That is where I am coming from.

See this speech in context