Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The establishment of the national memorial and records centre is a central commitment in the action plan for survivors and former residents of the mother and baby and county home institutions. It is right we remember, honour and pay respect to those who were resident in mother and baby homes, county homes, industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and related institutions. The Government action plan contains a number of initiatives to respond to the needs of survivors through a variety of commitments, including access to information and records, memorialisation, financial payments, health supports and other key initiatives. In particular, I welcome that the Government is committed to advancing these actions in a survivor-centred manner and to ongoing engagement and dialogue with survivors. I have brought up several times that timing is very important for survivors. I ask that we try to get this through as quickly as possible. I understand that a cross-Government process is under way to advance works on this, as the Minister said. That is really important. I welcome that the Minister said this would be in consultation with survivors.

See this speech in context