Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I begin by paying tribute to all the women and children who spent time in these institutions, including those in my county of Donegal. I pay tribute to the bravery shown by the survivors who engaged with the commission. I know there are many who did not have the opportunity to do so.

Tá moladh tuillte ag na mná, a gcuid teaghlaigh agus a gcuid páistí don chrógacht a thaispeáin siad, ní amháin le linn na hama a chaith siad sna hinstitiúidí seo, ach don chrógacht fosta a thaispeáin siad agus iad ag plé leis an gcoimisiúin agus ó foilsíodh an tuairisc. Bealach casta agus fada atá siúlta acu go dtí seo agus is cúis fheirge é gur theip ar an tuairisc agus ar an gcoimisiúin meas a thabhairt d’fhianaise na mná.

It is five years since the commission was established. For many survivors the process has been traumatic, frustrating and deeply disappointing. In so many ways the report and the commission have failed survivors and their families.

These institutions were not mother and baby homes but part of a regime which stripped mothers and babies of their dignity and rights. It was a regime which incarcerated women and girls, degraded and dehumanised them and forcibly removed children from their mothers. This was an act of cruelty the report failed, and brazenly refused, to recognise. The narrative perpetuated by this report is one which tries to universalize blame and thereby absolve church and State of primary responsibility.

The courage of survivors must now be met with immediate action. This includes proper redress for all those impacted, dedicated counselling and support services and far more. It needs to begin by respecting the right of survivors to their identity.

Tá an ceart ag duine eolas a bheith aige nó aici maidir lena fhéiniúlacht. Níor chóir don Stát an ceart sin a shéanadh. No one has the right to deny any person the right to his or her own identity. Survivors must have access to their information, including the right of access to birth certificates and adoption files. There must be measures to safeguard records as well. That is their right and it must be delivered.

The State failed mothers and their children. Now, belatedly, it must accept responsibility for that failure and deliver for survivors.

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