Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The mother and baby homes institutions payment scheme opened for applications at 9 o'clock this morning. It has taken far too long but I am glad the scheme is now up and running. An extensive information and awareness campaign will take place both at home and abroad, and applicants will be supported throughout the application process with the information and advice they need. Where a person does not have photo identification, that will be dealt with empathetically and on a case-by-base basis.

We should not forget that redress is not just about financial compensation but also about other things such as, for example, medical cards and access to birth information, which is so important to people. Ten thousand people have already got information through the birth information and tracing service, which many people in this House opposed. Work continues in respect of Tuam, in particular, to carry out exhumations there in order to make sure that those children get a Christian and appropriate burial. Work is advanced too on the records memorial centre on Sean MacDermott Street, which I think will be extremely important too.

The scheme itself is for 34,000 people who spent time in mother and baby and county home institutions. It is projected to cost €800 million, so it is the largest scheme of its type. I do not believe it is restricted on that basis. It did go further than was recommended by either the commission of investigation or the interdepartmental group which followed.

As regards negotiations with the religious orders, the Government believes that all parties have a collective responsibility to respond to the legacy of these institutions. Last May, the Government approved a proposal from the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to appoint Sheila Nunan to act on his behalf in leading negotiations with relevant religious bodies with a view to securing a financial contribution towards the payment scheme. Once those negotiations are over, a full report will be provided to the Government, which will then be able to decide what to do with the money, depending on how much there is.

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