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

I strongly support the motion before the House on the treatment of mothers and children in institutions across the State in the past. I speak as someone who was born and bred in Tuam, County Galway. As a young child I remember these children in my class but I also remember the terrible way they were treated, especially by the broader society, and the blatant discrimination that went on at the time. There can be no running away from this issue. These were terrible times, and everybody has a responsibility to deal with this issue, particularly those in leadership and authority roles. The oppression of women, the high mortality rates in these mother and baby homes, the vaccine trials, and the secret and illegal adoptions were all part of our dark history, and we need to deal with the facts. We need the truth but, above all, we need to ensure that this never happens again in our country.

Thirty-five thousand women spent time in these homes. Seven hundred and ninety six babies died in the Tuam home, and the remains of 3,200 children are in the Castlepollard home. There was also the Bethany Home. Three thousand children in these institutions had to endure vaccine trials. We need the truth and the facts. We need a proper inquiry, and in that regard I welcome the announcement yesterday by the Minister.

I want to highlight what is happening in Ireland in 2014. The hypocrisy being engaged in, particularly by some politicians, gets up my nose, particularly when 375,000 children are experiencing deprivation in our country today. We have 1,791 children seeking asylum housed in 30 direct provision centres, some of whom have been in those centres for more than seven years. In 2012, the special rapporteur highlighted the real risk of those children suffering abuse. Almost 3,000 children and adolescents are on waiting lists for mental health services. Eighty two per cent of carers are being affected by the cuts in care packages, and 77% of families have been affected by the cuts in respite care. If the Government really cares about these issues and these children, it must also do something about what is happening to children today.

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