Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I plead with the Minister to use his power urgently to end the industrial and reformatory school survivors' hunger strike by immediately awarding a health amendment Act, HAA, card to all survivors as they deserve access to comprehensive healthcare to deal with the lasting effects of these institutions and by awarding a full contributory State pension for the unpaid work done by them many years ago. These survivors worked long hours, unpaid, saving the State and religious orders a significant amount of money. The survivors are owed fair financial recognition for their forced, unpaid labour. They did in fact receive State apologies from the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and former President, Mary McAleese, but that will not pay their bills. I know some of these survivors personally and I am aware they are not for turning. They will not change their minds unless they get what both they and I believe they are entitled to. I wish to put on the record of the House that I fully support the survivors. I implore the Minister to act decisively on this most urgent matter to avoid any further unnecessary suffering. Survivors of the Magdalen laundries are receiving an extra pension for the work they did while these survivors, who spent years in these institutions, are getting nothing.

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