Dáil debates

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Third Interim Report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements

 

7:25 pm

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. First, I express my solidarity and pledge my party's ongoing support to the survivors, relatives and campaigners who are continuing their quest for truth and justice for those who died and those who were so cruelly mistreated in the institutions. What went on in mother and baby homes is a shameful part of the history of this State and one which was rooted in an appalling attitude to women.

I understand there have been many views on the reason for the delay in the production of the final report. Many people are very upset. The commission explained how the time-consuming work of digitising files and unearthing documents has been a major factor in the delay. Unfortunately, time is not on our side. Many fear they will not get the truth and justice they deserve. As we all know, justice delayed is justice denied, so I urge the Government to do all it can to ensure the commission has whatever resources it needs to complete its work in a timely fashion.

I want the Minister to outline her plan for redress for survivors of the Bethany Home and other homes who were wrongly excluded from the redress scheme in 2002. The second interim report was very clear in its recommendations on this issue. That report was a signpost to the findings of the final report and work is required to address the issue. It is not acceptable for the Government to tell the survivors that they will have to wait until after the publication of the final report before redress is even considered. The Bethany survivors group has described the delay as placing a "death sentence on justice and truth". I urge the Minister to begin working on a redress scheme immediately.

Part of the interim report notes the serious lack of information available when it comes to the burial sites of those who died at the homes. I understand the former Bessborough mother and baby home and large parts of the Shan Ross Abbey mother and baby home have been put up for sale by the nuns who ran them. We need to be absolutely sure there are no further burial sites on the grounds that are earmarked for development.

I welcome the announcement of the collaborative forum. That is something the previous Government should have done when it set up the commission of investigation in the first place. I also hope that when it comes to memorials that the survivors and relatives of those who died in the institutions will be widely consulted on the most appropriate way to go about it.

I commend the work being done by the commission, but I express my concerns at the delay. If the commission needs more resources to allow it to complete its work in a timely and efficient manner they should be provided. The last thing we want is to be back in this Chamber in 12 months' time to be told the report will be delayed yet again.

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