Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to echo the words of the former Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, who spoke about this issue in June 2014. He referred to the shame that society made women and children in mother and baby homes feel. His was an important speech. For many of the women, the sense of shame has lasted a lifetime. Some of the women are friends of mine, and some are constituents who have come to my office to share their stories with me. It has been a revelation to hear their accounts. Having been in the institutions prevented many of the women from reaching their full potential, and it prevented some from leading the kind of life they really wanted to lead.

Now that we have uncovered how the women and children were treated by society, it is our turn to feel a sense of shame. It is the turn of society to take on the burden, to be remorseful for the way it treated these people, who are citizens of our country, and to regret that it took so long to reveal the truth of what happened and shine a light on the desperate injustice done to those concerned. I hope that through official recognition by the State, through the actions and words of the current Government, we can bring solace, comfort and help to the women and children. In many cases, this is so much desired and needed. I hope this recognition and the establishment of the commission of investigation will help to lessen the burden the women have carried for too many years.

As I stated, since June I have been contacted by friends and constituents who have shared their difficult experiences with me. From what I have learned from this engagement, the process of the State investigating the so-called homes brings relief. It comes at a time in which we must help the affected individuals to heal the emotional scars that have been left by time. As a result of the practices of the past and putting the women into the institutions, there are generations of people who are left asking many questions. Adults who were children in the homes ask continually why they were abandoned. That question is a perfectly understandable response to their separation from their mothers. Unfortunately, some of the women and their children can never let this go and cannot resolve the issue. For some, it is a significant cause of anger and resentment. As a society, we owe it to the women and children to be fully honest. We owe it to them to investigate fully and lay bare the facts regarding what happened.

Last year, the horrific events in Tuam were uncovered. Thanks to the investigative work of Catherine Corless, we found out some of the story from that particular home. However, institutions such as that in Tuam were many in number and located across the country. They were places where mothers and their babies were kept sheltered from the full view of society. They were behind a wall, living a parallel life that was seldom spoken about or recognised. In Cork, my city, there were numerous homes, particularly the one in Bessborough. I hope the commission of investigation can unveil the long-overdue truth of what happened in the homes.

Just today in preparing for this speech I came across an e-mail from a lady living my constituency. She states that, since Thursday, she has felt the lifting of the burden of shame. She states she and others have had their shame, pain and hurt officially recognised, and that with the relief after all the years of carrying the burden in silence, healing can now begin.

I am glad to see the commission established. I am particularly glad the Minister, Deputy Reilly, referred to amendments in his speech yesterday and that we can bring hope to and encourage the women. I encourage the women to participate in the inquiry under the confidential arrangement or through the public forum. I hope the women will avail themselves of the arrangement and that we can make it accessible, as with other commissions. I hope the women's privacy will be protected and that the advertising of the commission will be straightforward. It is important that we make it easy for the women and their children to approach it and tell their stories. The women who want to participate believe the process should be advertised and that we must help other women who are in the closet to come out and participate in the inquiry. I commend the Minister. It is important that we start this process so we can bring healing to the many women who require it today.

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