Joe O'Toole (Independent)

I raised previously the need for this House to discuss the Government's response to the Ryan report, which is not due to be published until the last week in July. I believe the House should reconvene to discuss that, if only to show to the victims our concern and where we stand on these issues.

A huge amount is taking place under the radar in this regard. Over the last week or so I have been dealing with a case that dates from 1955. Ireland was a depressed country at the time and the father in the case was working in England, trying to get money together. The mother became ill and their youngest child, an 11 month old baby, could not be looked after at home. It was suggested that she be looked after for a fortnight in Goldenbridge while her mother convalesced. A healthy child went into Goldenbridge but four days later the child was dead. A telegram was sent to the father in England telling him the child died of dysentery. He came home immediately and went to see his child in St. Ultan's Hospital in Palmerstown and, to his horror, discovered two identical holes on each of the child's knees. He realised there was some other cause of death. He went to the Garda station and reported that he believed his child had been killed or murdered. He demanded that it be investigated but was fobbed off.

Now, no record can be found of anything I have just outlined, except the child's death certificate which states she died of dysentery. This is the fall-out from the Ryan report. What does this family want? They think they have identified where the baby is buried and want to have her body exhumed to try to establish the cause of death, if that is possible. They certainly wish to establish her identity. This baby was under the care of the Sisters of Mercy who refused to discuss the case with the parents. There is much talk about people apologising, showing remorse and forgiveness. This family is worrying, crying and emotional about this to this day. The parents have gone to their graves.

That is the reason the House must reconvene to deal with these issues. We must examine cases such as baby Marion Howe. Having looked through the section on Goldenbridge in Volume III of the Ryan report there is no reference, good or bad, to any babies dying. One wonders how much more there is to hear about and discover. It is important that we revisit the matter.