Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I support the amendments. It is important that the deadline be extended for the reasons Deputy Crowe outlined. People still may not know about the scheme. They are living in England and they are not part of the Irish community because of their experiences in residential institutions. We should allow time for them to avail of the scheme. If the Minister of State accepted the amendments, a rolling advertisement campaign could be run over the next two years to highlight the scheme. There would be nothing worse after 17 September if 100 or 200 people came forward who had only been made aware of its existence. I am aware of a number of victims who are unable to face up to what they went through in these institutions, even though the opportunity has been available to them through the redress board to come forward for many years. They have not mentally been able to face up to what they went through and to take the next step of acknowledging it and going before the board.

I accept the Government has to set a deadline for the scheme but it is too important an issue for these people. If we leave even a small number of people continuing to suffer without the opportunity to appear before the board and to put their story, that will be a great tragedy.

The other reason I support the amendments is that we are in the summer holiday period. People will be away and they will not read newspapers when these advertisements run over the next few weeks. People will miss them and it would be a bigger crime if they could have had an opportunity to seek redress but missed it because they were away. There is merit in extending the period of the scheme and the Minister of State should give serious consideration to it. That would not hinder, hamper or prolong unduly the work of the commission. The importance and value of that is much greater and would ensure that nobody is left out.

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