Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Irrespective of how far back we look into our history, we will realise it is one of abuse. Politically, socially and religiously, we have only known abuse. This nation was born of a refusal to be abused by the colonial powers. The struggle for a free Ireland was a struggle against abuse and was for and by both men and women. It is not unfair to say this struggle continues even today. Equality in our nation is still a dream for many marginalised individuals and groups. The legacy of abuse takes its toll personally and collectively. As the late author Paulo Freire said in his book Pedagogy of the Oppressed, “Looking at the past must only be a means of understanding more clearly what and who they [the oppressed] are so that they can more wisely build the future." However, before we can talk about forgiveness, we must be true and open about why and who carried out the abuse. It is essential that we as a people never shy away from the past. When one notes the rawness of the hurt of mothers and children from the homes, as described by some of them in the media recently, one realises the past we now talk about is not long ago at all. Therefore, I welcome the Government's decision to set up expeditiously a commission of investigation with statutory powers.

Not all in the Church abused and not all in the Church were aware of the abuse taking place, yet the Church as a hierarchy must own its sin, as it were. Where the State has colluded, it must take its share of the blame. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, dealt with this issue very well in his statement yesterday. The endeavour now is to address what happened in the context of the past before Ireland became what it is today. It is essential that what happened be seen in the light of what the Irish nation was at the time, with the Church and State intertwined with the will of the people.

The freedom of this nation came about only by expelling the colonial masters. For too long we operated under religious doctrines and allowed religious institutions to be answerable only to the religious hierarchy whose doctrines concerning unmarried mothers and their children were unchristian. Changes to our laws separating church and state, like the mandatory reporting of child abuse, go towards ensuring the past will not continue to rule our present and future. While the abuse and inhumanity perpetrated in secret and suffered by mothers and children in the homes has passed, we know the pain of the trauma still manifests itself because healing is required. The State can provide the vehicle for truth and justice that is required for the victims.

Let me quote the spiritual teacher Iyanla Vanzant: "When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else." As we, as a nation, once again face dark revelations about our past, we do so with sadness. This is something we need to mourn. It is natural to blame and point a finger but, as a nation, we need to do more. We need to find our way past this and find forgiveness and healing. As we hear the stories of the many victims of the homes, we will allow the process of healing, not just for them but for ourselves as a nation.

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