Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I really hoped this would be one of the topics on which we could all agree and that after all the human rights violations and mistreatment by the State, we would do the right thing immediately and set up this inquiry. The special rapporteur's recommendations and rationale are incredibly clear and compelling. We all know many adopted people could not participate in the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes; not only were they denied the right to tell their story in a State inquiry but as a result, the Taoiseach's apology did not even include them. Each and every one of them deserves the opportunity to contribute to an official State inquiry that would record the abuses they suffered and their impact. Instead, it seems we are offering a possible lesser process and we have another Government that does not consider their suffering worthy of a proper and full recognition. Will the Government establish the inquiry immediately on the system of illegal adoptions and that legacy?

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