Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is an important report and an important debate. I have listened carefully to what Members have said. I do not disagree with the fundamental point that an appalling crime was visited on all these families, in particular children. Something in the report struck me more than anything else, namely, the unacceptably high infant mortality rate in the first year of life, which was higher than anywhere known in the world at the time.

More than 9,000 children, or more than 15%, died in the mother and baby homes. The report goes on to say that in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s the percentage rose to the high 40s. It was a holocaust of death. I agree with Deputy Sherlock's descriptions. The horror and evil that was visited on these innocent women and children is appalling and unacceptable. I refer to the wonderful work that has been done on the Tuam babies by Catherine Corless. When the remains of children were found, it was asked whether it was true that they were buried in a sewage pit. The answer is that yes they were. The report says that was done with the knowledge of the religious congregation there. It goes on to say that there are people in Tuam and in Galway who know more about what happened there but do not speak about it.

I also came across a reference to my county of Louth. In 1961 there was an intervention by the manager at the time. The reference was to unacceptable and appalling personal inquiries into whether the families of two mothers who were going to an institution had the funds to support them because they were supported by the county council. I believe that was a criminal act as well. All over the country there are lots of people still in these county councils and there are lots of corners and reservoirs of information and books with dust gathered on them that could tell us a lot more. At the heart of the then Department of Local Government, was the wonderful Miss Alice Litster, who worked there and wrote reports. I acknowledge the praise afforded to her by the Minister and others. Were the reports just dumped on the shelf or were they brought before management meetings? Were they discussed with Ministers? They must have been discussed by senior officials. We cannot accept that we can just draw a line through it and say that it happened and that that was the past. It needs further investigation. We need more accountability. It is entirely unacceptable if, as the commission believes, there are other people with records that have not come forward yet.

I got a call during the week from one of my constituents who is in his 80s. He asked me if I could tell him where babies were born in Drogheda in such and such a year. This was before the maternity hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, was built. I said I would try to find out. I found out that there were two places. One was the Cottage Hospital and the other was St. Mary's, which was known as the county home. He said he was born in St. Mary's. I asked him what was different about that. He said he was illegitimate. I will not say the word he used, but it was very upsetting for him to use it in his life. We should remember that he is 80 years of age. He said that everywhere he went he was treated as a second-class citizen because he was born out of wedlock. He said that his mother fled the nursing home on the day of his birth to save him from being taken from her. There are other people whose needs must be addressed. I welcome the Minister's commitment in that regard. Even at this late stage in their lives, there are other people who should benefit from adequate advice and counselling. We should address special circumstances of health and other issues. The other problem for this man is that at 80 years of age he still does not know who his father is. He firmly believes that he has an absolute right to the integrity of who he is, but he cannot get that information. Whatever legislation is necessary to make that happen should be introduced. I know the commission recommends that there should be a referendum if necessary.

At the heart of our country at that time was the control by the Catholic Church. We can say what we like now because we are free to say it, but 40, 50 or 60 years ago one could not say it because the church controlled everything. It controlled education, schools and recreational amenities. It was in control of every part of society. The politicians of the day bent their knee to it. We bent our knee to it so much that we gave the Catholic Church a special place in the Constitution. That is how strong its power was. I am not talking about Christianity; I am talking about the institution of the church. The churches are accountable and must be held accountable. I know my time is up. I believe they should be accountable. If we get an opportunity later, when this legislation comes in, I will expand on that point.

See this speech in context