Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The objectives of the original Bill are well-meaning. It aims to address the profound negative impact the ruling of the Court of Appeal on this matter is having on grieving parents who are unable to remember their deceased child's death, name or legacy. That is very clear. It aims to give power back to those parents in order that they can remember their children or their family members in the way they want. This Bill, when enacted, will allow grieving parents to speak publicly about their deceased child. I fully agree with the Minister's statement that this is very important legislation. I hope it can be enacted without delay because we cannot continue with parents not being able to speak their child's name aloud and remember them in the way they want. The parents and families of these children should be able to remember them and use their names. That is how they are never forgotten. That is how parents deal with their grief.

Speaking of grief, I take this opportunity to ask the Ministers who are here to speak with their colleagues in government and ask them to reconsider the number of people allowed at funerals, which was announced last night. It should be increased from 25 to at least 50. It is a very sad state of affairs when one sees close family members standing outside the door of a funeral on a wet day as they cannot go in and be part of the mass or whatever kind of service it is. They feel they are excluded from their loved ones' services. I have attended many funerals in west Cork during Covid-19, albeit standing on the side of the road, and I have noticed that people in this country would like to be able to attend funerals, to say a proper goodbye and pass on their respects to the family and friends of the person who has passed away. Funerals in Ireland are a ritual, or they certainly are in west Cork. We have always been able to take part in going to a funeral. Now in west Cork I see family members and very close friends outside the door of a church and friends and neighbours lining the streets, while social distancing and wearing masks, to pay respects. All these churches can hold up to 500 people, most of them no less than 300, and the fact that only ten people are allowed inside at the moment is farcical. As we are talking about grief, I urge the Minister of State to review urgently the number of people who can take part in a funeral in a church, especially where there is ample space.

The Bill we are talking about aims to give back power to parents in order that they can remember their children or family members in the way they want. I give my full support to this Bill.

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