Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As one might expect, Sinn Féin has made a detailed submission regarding the terms of reference of the commission of investigation. As I said earlier, I think there needs to be an investigation into the treatment of women and babies since the foundation of the State. I accept that the State is unlikely to do this. Anything that happened when the British were here is another matter. We are talking here about matters that occurred under a native Government, which basically surrendered the rights of citizens to the dogma of a church. In my view, no church should have to depend on the State to uphold its teachings. It should be a matter of private conscience. I know the Taoiseach has tackled these issues in a very courageous and forthright way. The rights of citizens, particularly those who are vulnerable, should not be hostages to fortune over some dogma. I think we probably have an opportunity to open a new chapter in all of this. I appreciate that things obviously have to be judged in their own time. The Government, which has a busy agenda, could do a huge service by insisting on equality in all things. Of course people have the right to full religious and civil liberties. That goes without saying and has to be upheld at all times. For all we know, people are still being abused and ill-treated in institutions of the State. Not all of these difficulties are historic legacy issues. I ask the Taoiseach to consider providing for as wide a remit as possible in order that the broader question of the State's attitude to women may be examined.

I am often reminded of an incident mentioned in a very good book written by Nell McCafferty. She had come here from Derry after being employed by The Irish Times. She went into a shop to buy a gramophone record or a wireless, to use the parlance of those days, on hire purchase. The shopkeeper told her he could not give it to her on hire purchase without getting a man to sign for it. This was in 1974 or 1975. When she told him she did not have a man, he told her to hold on while he stopped a man in the street and asked him to come in and sign the form on behalf of Nell. After the man had done so, Nell asked him if he was working and he said he was not. Even though she had a very good job in The Irish Times, presumably with very good wages, she could not get a household item on hire purchase because she was a woman. While it might seem half-humorous, none the less it shows how her rights were contravened. That is the type of attitude that allowed what occurred in the mother and baby homes and Magdalen laundries and malpractices like symphysiotomy to continue. Perhaps there is an opportunity for a national conversation on these big matters and on the need for equality for all citizens, regardless of gender, disability or anything else. A formal commission might not be needed.

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