Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this truly tragic and harrowing case. I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement. I would have preferred more detail, but I understand that she was being deliberately vague in light of the fact that there is an ongoing commission of investigation. I, too, will be quite circumspect in my use of language for the same reasons.

I wish to make two brief points on behalf of the Regional Group. First, I thank the Farrelly commission of investigation for its work so far. I fully appreciate the frustrations of the House regarding how long it is taking, but I accept the need for the most recent extension of 12 months that was granted. I have read the substantive interim reports. They are, indeed, substantive, and make for grim and harrowing reading. Direction is more important than speed; I would rather wait another few months to get a more comprehensive report that is accurate and contains appropriate recommendations.

Second, I wish to extend my solidarity to Grace and her mum, who I believe no longer lives in this jurisdiction.

As Deputy Ó Cathasaigh so eloquently put it, Grace and I have a lot in common in that we grew up in the same county. While we may have grown up in the same county we grew up in completely different worlds. I had a very uncomplicated birth and I grew up in a family that was socially acceptable at the time. Unfortunately for Grace, the lottery of life dealt her a much more cruel hand in that she had a very complicated delivery that resulted in physical and intellectual impairment for the rest of her life. She also grew up in a family unit that was completely socially unacceptable at the time and suffered enormous stigmatisation, marginalisation and isolation as a result.

I have two questions for the Minister of State, who might be kind enough to provide the answers during her wrap up. This is the fourth extension for phase 1. Is the Minister of State satisfied this will be the last extension and that we will be looking at the final report of at least phase 1 next July? Perhaps the Minister of State will comment on this. Is the Minister of State satisfied there are no more Graces in the system at present and will not be in future? Have the appropriate safeguards been put in place to ensure this will never happen again?

I wish the Farrelly commission well in the remainder of its investigation. I very much look forward to reading the final report next July. It cannot happen soon enough from my point of view.

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