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

When I had the opportunity to speak on this report last week, I was extremely mindful that many survivors, their families and their representative groups had not yet physically seen the report, let alone had the time to read any of it. Now, a week later, many of us have read it, many of us are still working through it and some survivors and their families are still awaiting it. Unfortunately, I have to say with absolute honesty that it is undoubtedly one of the greatest miscarriages of truth ever produced. Survivors had so much expectation and perhaps optimism that this report would right some wrongs, hold to account those responsible for so much hurt and injustice, open up honest and truthful dialogue on a shameful chapter in our history and begin a process of healing for survivors and their families. Unfortunately, the report is a disgrace. Not only is it a collateral disappointment for survivors; it is also disrespectful in the extreme as it attempts to contradict their accounts. In the report of the confidential committee the authors set out to warn the reader that not all survivors' stories can be believed, stating that clearly they did not always recount their experiences correctly. All week survivors have taken to the airwaves to tell us their real and truthful accounts of life in Ireland's mother and baby detention centres.

Yesterday I spoke to a lady, one of the bravest women I have ever had to the privilege to know, who told me she spent over two hours with a transcriber. As this lady spoke the transcriber carefully tapped out each word on her machine. This lady told me that as she retold her painful and distressing story in intricate detail, the flood of emotions was so vivid and so distressing that she had to take a break. She spoke of being ripped from her family as a young girl, finding herself pregnant, alone and in a mother and baby institution. She spoke about the excruciatingly painful birth, being locked in a room alone throughout her entire labour and birth and being denied pain relief or any medical attention throughout the whole process. She recounted how the nuns removed the baby from her while she was breastfeeding and bonding with her new child. Not one word I have just read out was included in this report. Her story and countless other stories have been sanitised and misrepresented.

The lady asked me what was the point of the report and of the commission and why she even bothered She said it seemed that everybody else's human rights were important except hers. At every point in the survivors' lives, in their long and painful journey, they have been lied to. They have been tricked, some of them beaten, and some have still to tell their stories, such is the pain of reliving this part of their lives.

What did the State do to these brave women? It discredited and retold their stories. How can there be trust and hope? Words must be followed by action. Survivors, their families, and their representative groups have been very clear in what needs to come out of this report, however disappointing it is. The Government must bring forward access to information legislation that gives survivors unrestricted access to their own records and data, and, as has been mentioned by my colleague, we published legislation yesterday with regard to accessing birth certificates, which is at least the first step that should happen. We also need to ensure that survivors have support and access to housing, dedicated support workers, counselling and medical supports, and a comprehensive redress scheme. I also add that I believe there are possible grounds for a criminal investigation given some aspects of the report.

I know that there are many survivors listening in today and I take this opportunity to say to them that I will, in my power as a legislator, as an Opposition spokesperson, and as an Irish woman, work tirelessly to ensure that survivors' voices are at the centre of every action we take, every piece of legislation we introduce, and every measure we recommend to ensure that they are not forgotten and that their real stories are heard so that they can, perhaps, finally begin the process of healing. As a final word, I say that I am proud of these women for their courage and I believe their stories.

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