Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and thank Deputy O'Sullivan for sharing time. I compliment Deputy McDonald and the group that came together to propose this motion, to which I was glad to put my name. This is a terribly important issue. Over 30,000 young people were stripped of their dignity and robbed of a happy and carefree childhood. This certainly deserves the utmost respect from the Government. The issue has been neglected for too long. Redress is required. Unfortunately, many fine, respectable people have gone to their graves without an apology or any form of redress.

This is not about people seeking compensation. What they are seeking is acknowledgement. Redress is required for people who are still alive. It is sinful that so many have gone to their eternal reward without getting so much as a proper or acceptable apology. People only live for so long. It is awful to think of lovely young girls incarcerated in such institutions as the laundries who were mistreated and robbed of the happy days and nights they should have had. That is sad and an indictment of society at the time. It shows the lack of tolerance and humanity that existed at the time that beautiful, young people were mistreated in such a way. It was an awful period. It should never have been allowed to happen but it is the responsibility of each one of us elected to the Dáil to ensure we put forward our case and that the Government acts. I do not refer to the current Government specifically because there has been an unwillingness to deal adequately with the matter for many years. The State must live up to its responsibility. I compliment the Justice for Magdalenes group, which has done tremendous work, as have many other people in the past. It is time those in government ensure redress is provided and there is a proper apology.

I wish Senator Martin McAleese every success. He is a deeply committed individual whom I know is going about his job in a meticulous and hard-working fashion. We all acknowledge that. A stigma was put on those fine young people and the experience they went through was horrendous. Many of those affected are still alive and we must do everything we can to try to make up for the wrong that was perpetrated on them.

Unfortunately, there have been delays. I am not afraid to say and as has been stated that stalling tactics have been employed. When it comes to an issue such as this, sometimes the initial reaction of those in positions of responsibility is to stall in order to buy time. Unfortunately, time is running out for many and has run out for others who suffered in the past. I hope that once and for all proper justice will be done and that it will be seen to be done. It has been suggested that rather than taking different sides, we should all speak with the one voice on the issue. We should all sing from the same hymn sheet and ensure redress is provided.

I compliment and thank all of the speakers who have spoken on this important motion. I thank Deputy Mary Lou McDonald for introducing the Private Members' motion. Every week various important issues are raised on the floor of the House during Private Members' time. This is an important issue and must be given the utmost respect, which is the case. I am pleased to be present to support the motion.

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