Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I was going to make a reference to a beard but I will not. I want to raise two matters with the Minister, the first of which is the Bethany Home. Many Members are aware of what happened in Bethany Home, Rathgar, the suffering of women and children in the home and the existence of a mass grave in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Harold's Cross. The Taoiseach gave a commitment on 25 June that, within two weeks, the Government would make a statement and set out what was to be done to address the needs of the very small number of survivors from the mother and baby home. I have been raising this question consistently, as have others, and I feel I have been sent on a wild goose chase. When will we have a decision?

The second matter is the Construction Contracts Bill. We were due to deal with it today but it has dropped off the schedule. It is a very long-awaited and important item of legislation. Will it be taken next week? When will it appear before us?

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