Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom ar dtús an chrógacht agus an misneach atá léirithe ag na daoine a tháinig slán ó na hinstitiúidí seo agus a dteaghlaigh a mholadh. Ar an aistear fada, crua seo acu ar thóir na fírinne, roinn siad scéalta thar a bheith pearsanta agus trámach linn a bheidh greanta i mo chuimhne go ceann i bhfad. Thar aon ní eile, thug siad aird lom ar an tréimhse ghránna seo. Ní raibh aon rud sa tuarascáil seo a thabharfadh le tuiscint go raibh imní ar bith ar na polaiteoirí ná ar an bpobal faoi na leanaí nó na máithreacha sna tithe seo, in ainneoin go mba léir do chuile dhuine an leibhéal uafásach básmhaireachta naíonán. Arís, ba mhaith liom mo ómós a thabhairt do dhíograis, crógacht agus misneach na ndaoine seo a throid go leanúnach le cinntiú go n-éistfí leo faoi dheireadh thiar thall.

I commend the bravery and courage of survivors and families who came forward in the pursuit of truth and who shared very personal and traumatic stories of this deplorable chapter in our country’s history. This report found little evidence that politicians or the public were in any way concerned about the children or mothers in the homes, despite the horrific level of infant mortality. I again pay tribute again to the survivors’ determination, bravery and courage in fighting to ensure that their voices are finally heard. Like several of the reports that have come before us, this report must prompt the Government to act urgently to ensure the human rights of survivors are protected and that their voices are at the very centre of the Government’s response. Survivors’ voices have been ignored for far too long, and it is high time to let these survivors know that they were never at fault.

The narrative that society was as much to blame as the church and State is incomprehensible. Society does not collectively decide to banish its women to cruel institutions unless powerful and influential forces such as the State and church facilitate such actions. It is very clear from this report that there is potential for criminal investigation, and this must be examined.

The Government’s next steps are very important, and these must include survivors being able to access their own records and data, including their own birth certificates and adoption files, dedicated counselling financial redress, therapy and other supports. This process could be started by legislation that was published by my colleague, Deputy Funchion, yesterday which would give adopted people a legal right to obtain a copy of their own birth certificate. This is a crucial step in actively dealing with the asks of survivors. How we move forward must be about survivors and their families. We cannot lose sight of the fact that the publishing of this report was and still is very distressing and upsetting for survivors.

The true worth of a compassionate Government is measured in how it treats those who it has grown gravely wronged. I urge this Government, please, not to be found wanting at this critical moment.

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