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

I thank the Technical Group for allocating some of its time to me to speak on this very important subject. It is a serious matter and a dark period in the history of Ireland. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter.

I thank former Senator Martin McAleese and the people who worked with him for their report and for the cost-effective way in which they brought it to Government. He will always be remembered for that. A number of questions have been posed by Justice for Magdalenes on the three-month process to be undertaken by Mr. Justice John Quirke. They are as follows. Will Mr. Justice Quirke be commissioned to implement the process he recommends after three months? Will the process be on a statutory footing with independent statutory powers? Will the process be transparent and will there be an appeals process? Will there be independent monitoring of the process? Will the process be carried out in a fair, fast, accessible, non-adversarial and transparent manner? Will the Government make available to survivors and their families free, independent advice and advocacy assistance in relation to the scheme? Will the Government meet with Justice for Magdalenes to discuss the latter's restorative justice and reparations scheme submitted in October 2011 as requested by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter?

I turn to the need for services and supports for survivors. Justice for Magdalenes has seen a significant rise in the number of queries by phone and e-mail to its volunteer-run information service. As an unfunded, all-volunteer organisation, Justice for Magdalenes is not equipped to adequately serve the needs of this vulnerable population. Queries mostly concern the need for support and the registration process. Justice for Magdalenes has been calling for the establishment of a helpline and dedicated unit in the Department of Justice and Equality since last September to no avail. Survivors need a point of contact so that they can be referred to the appropriate services. What measures are being put in place to help this vulnerable group of institutionalised women to engage with the registration and reparations process? Will guardians ad litemor independent advocates be provided for those who need them? What plans are in place to ensure permanent advocacy for survivors in their places of residence? Will the Department of Justice and Equality put in place measures to assist family members of deceased Magdalen women to engage with the process? What steps are being taken to ensure that the sons and daughters of Magdalen survivors or other relatives and victims who were adopted have access to theirs and their relatives' records? With regard to deceased women, what steps are being taken to ensure that Magdalen grave records are accurate and up-to-date? What steps are being taken to ensure that there is access to Magdalen graves and what steps are being taken to ensure their upkeep? Are there mechanisms in place to reach out to all of the women who have emigrated to the United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada and elsewhere? Will redress and reparations have an effect on current benefits being received by Magdalen survivors? What measures are being put in place to ensure that they are not penalised? Will the process ensure that the making of an ex gratiapayment to a person resident outside Ireland and the United Kingdom is structured so as not to adversely affect her existing entitlement to benefits and supports? Will the Department ensure that copies of Dr. Martin McAleese's report are provided to survivors who may not have Internet access, including survivors who provided evidence to the interdepartmental committee and have yet to receive the report?

Over the last number of months and weeks, we have heard horror stories of the personal hurt and heartache survivors have had to endure. While it was great to be in the Chamber to see the people who came to hear the Taoiseach's apology on behalf of the State, one must remember in a heartfelt way those who are deceased and were not here to see justice being served for them. They were not here to hear the leader of the country apologise on behalf of the State. It is sad to think that those people went to their graves without hearing that. It is sad to think of the mass grave containing the bodies of many unnamed people which was uncovered when a property was being sold to a developer. The report and the Government's action must be commended and acknowledged. The Minister for Justice and Equality, officials, Dr. Martin McAleese, the Taoiseach and everyone else who joined in the effort to bring about redress must be thanked and complimented. While it might be said that it is late, I am the first to say that it is better late than never. I am the first person to acknowledge good work when it is done. While there was upset when the Taoiseach did not apologise immediately on publication of the report, there was a reason for that. The Taoiseach used the intervening time to travel to England to meet many of the survivors. There was an orderly reaction to the report and I see now and appreciate why the Taoiseach did not come to the House the following day to give the apology. I am sure all of the survivors recognise that fact.

I would never want to see people being wronged. There are thousands of priests and nuns who have served our people very well over the years. They were kind and generous and they devoted their lives to God and others. I do not like to see in the media, whose members are the people who run the country now, the impression being given that any person who puts on a priest's collar or a nun's habit is evil or has something wrong with him or her. Nothing could be further from the truth. Of course, there were horrible people who did unspeakable things to beautiful children who should have been protected and nurtured by everybody. Unfortunately, there will be evil people in all walks of life. I want to ensure that good priests and nuns will always be respected and highly thought of. I have the utmost respect for them. They devote their lives to what they believe in and to God. They believe in their church and do untold good service in their communities. I acknowledge and recognise that. I was a person who benefited from the teaching of nuns when I was a young boy with severe learning difficulties. I would never shy away from the fact that I had that difficulty and that it was the nuns who helped me. I would always admit that and say I appreciated the help. I will never forget the people who helped me when I needed it.

I am sorry to throw in this point, but I ask the Government to deal with the important issue of the 32 survivors of thalidomide who need to have their cases heard. While it is only 32 people, they must be assisted and acknowledged. I would appreciate the Government dealing with that in the same workmanlike way it dealt with the Magdalen ladies.

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