Results 61-80 of 5,171 for speaker:Victor Boyhan

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I am conscious of time. The Minister made the point about winding down to provide the supports. We do not have to wind down. We can wind down Caranua. We should have been providing supports anyway. The supports should never have been conditional on Caranua. We know they were processed. We know people went through a process of redress and were interviewed, etc. These are most basic...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: That is really interesting. There is a divergence now between the many millions of euro and €50,000. The Minister thinks that was-----

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: What I would say, because it is my intention to pursue it, is that there should be an audit and an investigation. I do not know if that is the Committee of Public Accounts or if it has that remit - I do not know that yet - but I certainly will be looking for it and I ask the Minister to promote the idea. Accountability is really important with regard to the administration of any funds, be...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I acknowledge and agree with the points made by Senator Stephenson. She mentioned Philomena's law, which is being debated in Westminster and is very important. Michelle O'Neill had an article in the Irish Post the other day in which she talked about the new redress scheme being rolled out by the Executive. It may catch some people in the North who spent a considerable time in institutions...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: The Minister spoke about treating people fairly. A payment of €3,000 is not treating people fairly. I do not care about other schemes and keeping things equal between them. There have been many other unfair schemes. We are talking about this scheme and these particular issues. The Minister is saying, in effect, that €3,000 will have the same value in 20 years' time as it...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 16: In page 8, after line 37, to insert the following: “(6) The payments for health supports shall be subject to a review on an annual basis as the Bill currently provides for payment of €3,000 to a former resident.”. I pursued all of this debate when we discussed amendment No. 15, which I am sure the Minister noticed, and I will not repeat...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I thank the Civil Engagement Group and Senator Higgins for introducing this all-encompassing, clever amendment which covers everything we have talked about. It is about accountability and the Minister coming back within 12 months of the passing of the Bill. I hope the Minister does not say this is not possible. For some reason that I do not know, nothing is possible. That is really...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I will recap on three things. I am encouraged by the Minister's favourable response, but I want to be clear about something. On amendment No. 16, she is not in a position to change that in terms of a review. On amendment No. 19, she stated she will work collaboratively with me, and I will do so with her. I give her that commitment. She will come up with some suggestion for Report Stage....

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: Perfect. Amendment No. 21 concerns compensation. The Minister talks about Sage and other advocacy groups. She will again collaborate with me, and will do so with her, to work on some sort of scheme she thinks is proportionate, right and appropriate. I presume that is based on what we have said. I am open to hear back what she is saying, but I want to confirm that she will come back with...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 19: In page 9, between lines 25 and 26, to insert the following: “(iii) the payments for educational services shall be subject to a review on an annual basis.”. In light of the Minister's agreement that we will collaborate and work together on Report Stage, I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: Just to clarify, the Minister and I have agreed, in this open forum, that we will engage and work on some form of commitment with regard to the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: On that basis, I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 20: In page 9, between lines 28 and 29 to insert the following: “Report on The Special Advocate (for survivors of institutional abuse) 7. Within nine months of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall, lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the range of supports that can be provided by the Special Advocate for survivors of institutional...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I will withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 21: In page 9, between lines 28 and 29 to insert the following: “Sage Advocacy 7. Within nine months of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the range of supports that will be provided by Sage Advocacy for survivors of institutional abuse.”. For clarity, the Minister and I will...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: Will the Minister give her response to amendment No. 21?

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: To clarify, I never said Sage Advocacy would make the recommendations; I said the Minister would make them. The amendment states, "Within nine months of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall lay" not Sage Advocacy.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: In light of what will follow in a minute, I withdraw the amendment.

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: I move amendment No. 22: In page 9, between lines 28 and 29 to insert the following: “Report on the role of the Sage Advocacy 7. Within nine months of the commencement of this Act, the Minister shall, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas on how the Sage Advocacy can be empowered, supported, and resourced to assist individual survivors to access supports and provisions...

Seanad: Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Bill 2024: Committee Stage (19 Jun 2025)

Victor Boyhan: Okay.