Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

Four survivors of our hellish industrial school system remain on hunger strike outside Leinster House in an effort to obtain very modest financial and medical assistance for a cohort of about 4,500 people who have been profoundly harmed and neglected by the State. They have been left without written confirmation of what was agreed in a meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, last week. I understand a meeting with an intermediary has been postponed until tomorrow. Meanwhile, they are into the 45th day of their hunger strike. Their physical health is in serious peril. One of the hunger strikers – Mary Dunlevy Greene, originally from Kilteely, County Limerick - told me the main aim of the supports they are seeking is to be able to die with dignity as most survivors are already advanced in years and are suffering with health conditions related to chronic childhood adversity. You cannot get more stark than that. Will the Minister assure us that we will see those agreements confirmed in writing with the utmost sense of urgency?

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