Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, we are once again in this Chamber dealing with a legacy of the State that has been far from what we would like it to have been. I will quote the Minister, who said, "What happened at Tuam is a stain on our national conscience." That is what happened at Tuam and in all the various mother and baby homes with the incarceration and treatment of women and children. At Bessborough, Sean Ross Abbey and in all the various institutions, the State failed to look after its citizens, from the youngest to the oldest.

We all welcome this legislation, which is not before its time. It must be accepted that a huge amount of due diligence has been done by the committee and Deputy Funchion. We need to make sure in the future that if any difficulties or anomalies arise, we get over them. It is vital that we would not in any way put through legislation that could impede. We want to exhume the remains of the children who were tragically lost in Tuam and elsewhere. That is necessary for them and for their families.

We have all met with people who have been directly impacted. There is a time constraint on us because many of these people are very old. We need not only to be seen to do justice; we have to offer them the justice that they have not received for a significant part of their lives.

I acknowledge the work that has been done by Catherine Corless and others in highlighting this issue. We might not be in the place that we are if it was not for their efforts. I welcome the interaction with the Minister, particularly in terms of the key recommendation not to remove the jurisdiction of the Coroners Act. All of these things are vital. There is still work to be done around the 20 m criteria. We need to ensure like that this does not become an obstacle. Therefore, I hope that the Minister will personally ensure that whatever piece of due diligence needs to be done is done. This will ensure that this legislation is fit for purpose and that we can have justice for those people who have been failed so badly by this State. I have no doubt that there will be full support across this House in doing this. Justice is better served late than never.

See this speech in context