Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I fully support what has been said in respect of the amendments. I will ask for the indulgence of the House for a couple of minutes. I wish to put a couple of matters on the record in connection with the Bill. There are a number of quotes I would like to read. I will not name the people whose words I am sharing but they need to have their stories told. It is important. I beg the House's indulgence to do that.

The first states:

I would love to give my story to the dail as this really upsets me how things have turned out.

I thank you for your help but as a child who was in st patricks and been in different childrens homes, I will still live with unanswered questions to do with my life.

Things, such as photos of me been a baby might not be much to some people but it's my life no one else's.

I would like to know how would they feal not ever having someone that they called mam or dad or how would they feel if they had no records of when u were a baby. I need to end this nightmare that's been with me for years I've had a childhood full of sexual and physical abuse. I cry myself to sleep most nights wondering why me why did I not have a life were there wasn't sexual and physical abuse about I was only a child I was suppose to be in a safe place I have feelings and I don't ever think my heart will be mended. There's a lot more that I could say but I hope I get the message through thank you again.

Another states:

I for one do not want their insulting pittance, I want justice for being coerced in to giving my son up for adoption, an illegal adoption as I was underage to begin with for consent of any sort, I was 14 when I pregnant and just turned 15 when I had my son. So i am in process of taking an individual case. I think that many more will do the same if the government continue with this ridiculous redress bill!

That correspondent continued:

I am really upset and angry. I was denied the opportunity of rearing my son, was expected to carry on as if nothing had happened and to add insult to injury was put into An Ghrinan reformatory school. Shamed and silenced for years. The life long trauma and loss and seperation. Honestly Leo varadkar really added insult to injury today when he spoke about this being ‘history’ and that they need money for todays issues..How dare he minimise us survivors...who suffer everyday with that loss and pain...that never goes away...it eats away at you like a cancer until the day we die! And offer what he thinks is a generous package to some...what will be his bill and that of the cabinets St. Patricks day holidays across the world...a hell of a lot more than he is offering survivors for a life time of trauma!

Another states:

Whilst I'm disappointed with the near certain outcome, contributions along with other opposition TD's has been most welcomed. It goes a long way to speaking the truth of what went on.

My mother never had a chance to speak out and died in an institution. The least I can do is send a few emails.

That is just a sample of the emails I have received to my office. It is difficult for the people who have lived through this to have to watch these proceedings. I send my thoughts out to them. I hope that at some stage in the future, something proper can be done to address these issues because there is no doubt that we will have to come back to them.

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