Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this very important debate on Bethany Home. I thank and commend all those involved in the campaign for truth and justice. I fully support the delivery of a State apology, a redress mechanism and access to personal records for a small number of surviving men and women of Bethany Home. That is what this motion is about. If we are all serious about truth, justice, equality and respect for human dignity, we must support this motion. I urge everybody to look at the details of what is going on in this debate.

From 1922 to 1972, Bethany Home in Rathgar was a maternity home, children's home and place of detention for women on remand or convicted of crimes and referred by the courts. It was subject to inspection under the Registration of Maternity Homes Act 1934. I recognise the State's failure to vindicate the rights of sick and dying Bethany children after receiving reports of neglect by the deputy chief medical adviser. We know that 219 Bethany Home children died between 1922 and 1949. These same children lie in unmarked graves in Mount Jerome cemetery in Dublin. I also acknowledge the Department of Local Government, public health inspector and media reports detailing the very serious neglect of children in Bethany Home and of children sent to nurse mothers. I consider most serious the exclusion of the surviving men and women of Bethany Home from the residential institutions redress scheme which provided for fair and reasonable awards to persons who, as children, were abused while resident in other institutions subject to State regulation or inspection. Tonight, I urge all Deputies to listen very carefully and to support this motion. I urge the Minister and Government to listen to the details in this motion and do their best to support this cause.

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