Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am deeply concerned that the approach to which the Minister appears to be wedded will result in another failure for these women in their plight to get justice. When the Minister mentioned dignity and equality issues in his press release the other day, essentially he undermined the seriousness of the allegations these women made because they are so much more than that. When he mentioned the terms of reference of the review group he has put in place, he was effectively putting responsibility for any further action on a group of people he has tasked to do a job and who are doing so in the realm of the terms of reference in which those who brought us to this point - the Women of Honour - cannot engage and have faith. Surely the Minister can acknowledge that one of the fundamental principles of healing after trauma or any kind of abuse is to feel not only that one has been heard but also that one's concerns have been taken on board. I am very concerned that this will result in another failure and we will all be back here in a number of years having the same conversations again.

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