Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief as we are up against the clock. To reiterate, I have an issue with the fact that we have not had an opportunity to discuss our amendments in detail, regardless of the position the Minister set out at the start. It is unfair and wrong that we are not getting that opportunity at least. The Minister said that he wanted to look for solutions, and that the solutions were not necessarily in this legislation. I do not know if he meant his legislation or the amendments I and others have put forward. I do not believe in this legislation. I do not believe it is necessary or that it is a good legislative measure, but my amendments and those of other Members go some way towards addressing the issues. If the Minister is looking for solutions and acknowledges they are not in this measure, that is the reason he should put the brakes on, halt it and give it at least three months so we can put the solutions forward and the Minister will know that he is 100% doing the right thing.

If there is the political will to do something, anything can be done. We have seen that often in the last number of weeks with regard to Covid and the various decisions that were made. If there is the political will to do something, it definitely can be done. This measure is very wrong. The Minister is putting himself in a very difficult position. With this start, he is setting out on the wrong path in the context of how he will be able to deal with survivors in the future. The right thing to do is to delay this, get it right, not seal the records and ensure all the survivors have a chance to have consultation and their voices heard. The Minister will hear directly from them why they feel so strongly about the records and the involvement of Tusla.

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