Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I thank all the Senators who contributed for the sincerity of their contributions. I particularly thank Senator Averil Power of the Fianna Fáil Party for her opening response. This is an emotional time for all of us, but it is also time to look at what we have said and what we must do. I will address the issues that must be addressed in the limited time available. If I do not refer to all of the points that were made, I apologise. We can discuss it in further detail on Committee Stage tomorrow.

With regard to including other categories, the Government has had to make the difficult decision to form a benchmark, which includes 15,000 people who have gone through the process. It does not include all of the people who have gone through the institutions, no more than the victims of bullying in our primary school system include all the people who have gone through our primary school system. There were those who were abused in the institutions and there were some who may have had very lonely and horrible experiences, but they were not in the category of being physically abused in the way that others were. There must be a cut-off point so the fund of €110 million will have some remedial and effective impact on the survivors. I accept the point made by Senator Norris, that there are victims and survivors. There are victims and survivors in the Visitors Gallery today, and I salute them.

Why do we not include Bethany House, all the people who have been through the system and people in the Magdalene Laundries? It is for another time to address the Bethany House and Magdalene Laundries people. I will refer to the points that Senator Mullen made but in some cases, sadly, some parents felt so ashamed of their daughters that fathers voluntarily put them into the Magdalene Laundries. Where did that shame come from? It was from an authoritarian church that said one cannot have a sinner living in one's house.