Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue. The Sinn Féin Party did everything in its power to try to ensure the motion received the support of every Member. It is unfortunate that we do not find ourselves in that position tonight, but I thank all of the Members who signed the motion and indicated their support for it, especially those in the Technical Group, Independent Deputies and Fianna Fáil Deputies. Unfortunately, the Government side has seen fit to bring forward its amendment. However well meaning they try to portray it, it is a matter of regret because this is a missed opportunity for all Members to speak with one voice on behalf of the victims. As the previous two speakers outlined, the primary purpose of the motion is to keep the issue of the Magdalene laundries at the top of the political agenda and try to finally arrive at a position where the Government will act decisively and swiftly, unlike previous Governments, by providing redress for the cruelty and abuse inflicted on the women concerned, with a much overdue apology on behalf of the State. Many speakers tonight and tomorrow night will rightly focus on the injustices inflicted on the women of the Magdalene laundries.

As Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin noted, it is equally important not to forget another dark episode in our recent history. We are mindful of another group of survivors who were treated in an equally appalling way by the State, that is, the women and children who suffered in Bethany Home. Like the Magdalene laundries survivors, they have campaigned courageously for an apology and an independent inquiry into what happened in that residential home. It is important to reflect on what happened. We know that between 1922 and 1949 more than 220 children died in Bethany Home, of whom some 219 are buried in unmarked graves in Mount Jerome cemetery. We know that countless others suffered illness and abuse resulting from neglect. As far back as 1939, there were reports of the abuse that people had suffered in this residential home. We have heard countless stories of children being insufficiently cared for, going unwashed, sick, neglected and left in soiled nappies for lengthy periods. This is the most appalling abuse that anyone could put any child through. Bethany Home symbolises the abandonment of the State's duty of care to women and children who found themselves in institutions.

It is regrettable that the plight of the victims of Bethany Home have been largely ignored and disregarded by previous Governments. Earlier this year when we were discussing the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill, there was an opportunity to go some way to try to rectify this. During the debate we brought forward a motion that would have seen the establishment of a separate redress board for the women of the Magdalene laundries and the Bethany Home survivors. Unfortunately, like the previous Governments which failed to address this issue, the Minister for Education and Skills could not find it within himself to support the amendment. During the debate he cited the well worn excuses of previous Governments about the potential cost to the State and the fact that the Bethany Home survivors had come from a privately run mother and baby institution and, therefore, were not entitled to redress. This is all the more regrettable when one considers that there are serving Ministers and Ministers of State on the Government benches who held very different views when they sat on these benches. For example, in 2010 during a memorial service for the Bethany Home victims buried in Mount Jerome cemetery the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, said it was time for the Government to "do the decent thing and end this outrage". These sentiments were echoed by many within her party. We have heard Deputy McDonald quoting other Labour Party Deputies in this regard. Now the Minister of State and other Labour Party Ministers who spoke so passionately on behalf of the victims two years ago find themselves in a position to honour what they said to rectify the situation and put an end to the outrage. It is baffling why this issue has not been resolved before now, given some of the comments the Minister of State has made.

It is more than 70 years since the first reports on events at Bethany Home. It appears from the Government amendment that once they attained power, those in government, like those in previous Governments, seem more concerned with refusing to face up to the State's responsibility to survivors and that they are willing to wash their hands. This is despicable - there is no other way of describing it. The actions of this and previous Governments in comparison to the dignity and integrity of the survivors' groups which have campaigned tirelessly on behalf of the victims bring shame on this and previous Governments. It is simply unacceptable by any moral or ethical standard that the women concerned are still being denied any official acknowledgement of their suffering. Just as the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, urged the previous Government, I urge the Government to do everything in its power to end this outrage.

The Government should start by withdrawing its amendment and supporting the motion. We should not miss the opportunity here for all of us, regardless of political affiliation or none, to speak on behalf of these victims with one voice, and I urge the Minister of State to do that.

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