Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Social Democrats for tabling this motion. There should be no more time wasted. The people of the mother and baby homes have suffered enough. It is time the redress scheme was introduced in recognition of what happened there.

I will tell the House a story. I visited a person - I will not say where - because I knew that this person was alone. The individual was a survivor of the mother and baby homes. I arrived at the house with a box of chocolates and flowers. The person looked at me with a blank face and asked why I was there. I just said that I was there to let them know that we were here for them and that they were not alone. I met the same person recently when they finally realised that they were being recognised in the redress scheme. They thought that they were getting somewhere. That person gave me a hug and a smile, and told me that they were getting their life back. However, they asked how many of their friends had died since the scheme's announcement. There has been delay after delay.

No more time can be wasted for those who suffered in mother and baby homes. It is time to get this done. It is time to get rid of the six-month requirement. It was a traumatic period for many. It is time the scheme was progressed and their suffering was addressed.

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