Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

When the Minister first responded, he stated he was not in a position to accept the amendments. I took that to mean that he might consider accepting them at some point down the road, but his latest response would indicate they are not under consideration at all.

The mother and baby homes commission reported that at least 9,000 children died while in the State's care. Many causes of death are largely unknown, as are the locations of the remains. However, it is clear that the death rate was way higher than among the rest of the population. The children's relatives and the wider public want justice for the lost lives. From what we know of the conditions and treatment of babies, children and mothers in the institutions, a portion of the deaths were unnatural. However, that is not a reason for intervention under this Bill. Instead, the Government will act only in cases where there are substantially inappropriate burials. Therefore, I cannot conceive why the Government is doing what it is doing. The Bill allows for examinations only on the basis of inappropriate burial rather than the question of whether there is any suspected or alleged violent or unnatural death. References to other State bodies that usually deal with investigations are immaterial when what I describe has not happened, is not happening and will likely never happen, as we have seen across the country to date. The Government is clinging to technicalities when there are known sites with potential mass graves that will never be examined under this law. That is an insult to survivors, transitional justice and the will of the Irish people.

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