Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)

As the Minister has reiterated on a number of occasions, this fund arose from the cross-party motion and the need for the State to deal with the needs of survivors of residential institutions. The debate we have had has opened many scars for the survivors who have had to deal with many issues. All of us received e-mails and distressed phone calls from many of those people who have been damaged and continue to carry the scars of the damage done. All of us acknowledge that we can never undo that and, as a society, can only acknowledge it and try to make recompense. At the very least we must try to give those people access to the services they require.

The Bill has deficiencies which have been highlighted by many of the groups representing people who feel they have not been listened to yet again. There is a feeling that in some ways much of the money is going to shore up public services which should exist as of right in any case. There may be a desire that, as with the hepatitis C victims, these people should have been given a special card to allow them to access services and so on. As everybody's needs are different and cannot be put in a box, there should have been greater flexibility in the programme. The fund should have provided for access to services in the way in which it does, but it should also have given the option of a lump sum for those who might decide they want to use it for their families. The issue of a pension should also have been addressed. For those reasons and because a number - albeit a small number - of people, who were eligible to apply for redress but could not do so for whatever reason, are again being excluded, which, sadly, has been the story of their lives, we will be opposing the passage of the Bill. That said, I know we will not win the vote and I hope the fund is established without delay. We will certainly be monitoring the review and other safety valves the Minister agreed to insert.

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