Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Despite the widespread rejection of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters, the Government has based its redress scheme on its findings. Survivors and families have been consistent in the demand for inclusive redress, redress that recognises the human rights abuse of forced family separation. The Government has ignored the mothers and their children on both fronts. It is deeply hurtful that the Government has created a hierarchy of survivors, taking the view that some mothers and their children suffered less than others. The Government delivered this scheme knowing there are women in the courts this very week seeking to right the wrongs of the commission’s report but, rather than hear those voices, the Government has doubled down on the failures of the commission. How does the Taoiseach justify this? If the Government will not listen to the voices of survivors, Sinn Féin and others in opposition will do so and we will use our time in the Dáil next week to give voice to them.

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