Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his opening remarks. The is a fairly in-depth Bill. I thank everyone who was involved in this process. I have spoken in the Chamber many times. Sometimes we can work together and achieve great things. We are going in the right direction but, unfortunately, what happened in the past has brought us to where we are now.

Nearly 30 years ago, I worked with my dad. We worked on headstones, dug graves and whatever else. I remember exhuming 92 people from a convent graveyard a number of years ago. I know how sensitive it is for the relatives of those being exhumed. I know how strict it is. I also know how the county manager, county council, coroners and An Garda Síochána get involved. It is an in-depth process.

I am not here to knock the Bill. I genuinely believe we are going in the right direction. There is a sense of fear among the public but to be honest, who could blame them? That fear factor dates back generations, which is why we are having this discussion. I am familiar with the situation in Tuam and, especially, the situation in Bessborough in Cork. Every year, we go down there to meet survivors and listen to their stories. Unfortunately, the numbers are getting smaller each year. It is harrowing to hear those stories. All Deputies have heard personal stories.

I welcome the removal of the pilot programme because many concerns were raised about it. Balancing privacy rights and the public interest is very difficult. I am sure the legislation can be tweaked again in that regard.

The information campaign could be an asset. As can happen in any Department, if the public is left without proper information, the truth can get lost, the process can be broken and the fear factor can return. That fear then turns to suspicion and we are left in a position where nobody works with anybody else because of fear and suspicion. We do not want that. We need to push forward.

I am conscious of the survivors and family members watching this debate. Sometimes politics can be left at the door and we can work together collectively. As I have said before, we are legislators. We are servers of the people and we are supposed to work for them and their betterment. Sometimes we have to put down the hatchet and sit around the table to work together collectively to do the right thing.

I thank everybody who was involved in this process. This has been going on for a very long time. I congratulate all parties because we have done the right thing. Working together, it is possible at times to get things right. I will be watching the progress of the Bill. As I said, this is a happy day but also a sad day. We are discussing the past and what happened but, on the other hand, it is nice to be able to say that while the legislation might not be perfect yet, we are moving in the right direction. It is going to give solace and closure to the people affected. I hope this country will learn from the mistakes of the past and we will never have to see these things again.

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