Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The commission's report is a reminder to us all of how vulnerable people are often removed from society. I grew up 20 miles from the home in Tuam, which Ms Catherine Corless told us about in 2014 and which prompted this investigation into the homes. These homes were scattered throughout the country, that is, all Thirty-two Counties. As the church did not see any borders, children were trafficked North to South and on to adoption in Catholic families. Children in Protestant homes in the State were treated equally badly by the powers that be at the time. They endured forced separation from their mothers and even today, due to how the law stands, many cannot find basic information that we take for granted.

The Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance approached me some years ago and I was only too happy to be able to help access various supports to allow for quality of life in the years to which people often look forward. I am aware of the news that emerged yesterday that back-up tapes of the interviews with survivors have been retrieved and many survivors are waiting to hear what the outcome of this latest development will be and what final decision will be made on these recordings. I acknowledge the tremendous work done by the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, in the past number of months, as this is a problem he inherited from previous Governments.

The commission's report contradicts survivor accounts. Survivors have lost trust and this House must respond to that. We have not got the answers but, like my colleagues, I feel we must listen to survivors and speak for them. It is for that reason I am supporting the motion put forward by the Social Democrats for an extension to the lifetime of the commission. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Ms Breeda Murphy in supporting the survivors through the Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance. She has been a tremendous advocate for the survivors in helping them access supports and advocating on their behalf for many years.

In closing, I urge the Minister to do right by these people. He should not delay the legislation on burials or adoption and tracing. He should put in place the DNA database that was promised in order that families can be matched with deceased children when remains are recovered. We owe them that and much more.

See this speech in context