Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is impossible to calculate the trauma experienced by those who resided in many of the mother and baby homes across the country. To understand the emotional, psychological and physical distress the survivors still experience is something that can only be comprehended by those who lived through the awful experience. We can only attempt to grasp their suffering by listening to their testimonies. It is clear from the many stories these survivors tell that they still manifest the pain of their traumatic past each and every day. Every day the survivors face new challenges. As they get older, they face the additional challenges of declining health, retirement or losing their spouse. These are things that may negatively impact on their already fragile psychological states. Many exhibit symptoms of post traumatic stress. While their experiences may not have prevented their ability to adapt to daily life, for many living a normal life as best as they can will involve repressing many of these traumatic memories so that they can focus on building a life. For others, the trauma and stress of their experience has left a permanent mark which has continued to influence their lives. The Government could have resolved this because it is the right thing to do. Recently, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that not everybody would be satisfied with the entirety of the redress scheme. He needs to understand that it is not simply a question of whether or not someone is satisfied with the proposed scheme but that the scheme is causing unnecessary distress to survivors. In fact, it is retraumatising the survivors who have been excluded from the scheme and will only continue the pain and hurt that they have felt all their lives. The Government must look again at this flawed scheme to ensure that no survivor is excluded.

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