Caít Keane (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I wanted to speak on this matter and note it is not the end but is only the beginning for the Magdalen girls. I compliment the Minister of State on the work she contributed on this matter over the years. I also compliment the Minister, Deputy Shatter, on taking it on board when the Government was barely in the door and ensuring it was a priority. The Minister also should be complimented on making it a priority in his Department. Members have listened to the heartfelt speeches from various Members of the Dáil but I am sure no one will mind if I single out Fine Gael's own leader, the Taoiseach, Deputy Kenny. While there had been criticism that he did not apologise straight away, it was proven that he wished to read the report's contents. His heartfelt and emotional response has demonstrated he is a man with a heart and who cares. This has demonstrated that in leading the country, his heart is also in the right place. I do not wish to be political about it but it is a Government that cares about people. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, is present and when she goes off-script, she sometimes is at her best. I also took note of Senator Bradford's comments about when the Minister of State was off-script. The survivors have also congratulated the Taoiseach. I also wish to pay tribute to Deputy Martin, who did say sorry. While it took a long time, it was better late than never and he recognised all the years of neglect when his Government should have done a great deal more when in office. I pay tribute to the survivors' groups that worked hard for many years, made available documentation and never gave up, as well as to the religious orders which co-operated and made available their documentation. While some records were not kept, all documentation they had was made available.

However, as the Minister of State and other speakers, including Senator Bacik in particular, have noted, there is a great deal more work to be done that will not make for pleasant reading. It was also appreciated that on the day, the Taoiseach announced he was both apologising and setting up a redress scheme. No apology, no matter how sincere, can ever erase from their minds what happened to them. It demonstrated to them that at last, they were listened to and that it was believed they were telling the truth. This meant a lot to them. Members cannot turn back the clock in respect of what was done but it has been acknowledged that wrongs were done. Moreover, the Government must ensure that in the future, it is better for everyone in every institution. Members also must remember those who died before they could hear this apology. In their absence, I am sure their people also wish to acknowledge them. I pay tribute to former Senator McAleese, who was an absolutely inspired choice by the Taoiseach. Perhaps I am wrong but I doubt whether any other person on earth would have got such co-operation. I recall his work on North-South co-operation when he was building bridges and this theme has been carried on with the building of bridges to bygone days. I pay tribute to the public service duty he has done.

The report demonstrated conservatism and unaccountability in how authority ruled with a heavy hand and how church authorities said one thing but did another. It demonstrated how unaccountable were church and State, where the State bowed to what the church said, where the rights of citizens were not even mentioned sometimes or were not even considered. Everybody had to kowtow to the official line, be it from church or State. It was a society in which many things were brushed under the carpet if they did not suit and woe betide anyone who challenged the conservative consensus. One might sometimes ask, when debating certain issues, whether much has changed. I am thinking about Fr. Flannery, who is challenging the conservative consensus and the poor man has been silenced for daring to challenge the conservative view. One has heard from the Magdalen ladies that appearances were everything and how girls were hidden in tunnels lest they dare speak when an inspector called. One must ask what the inspectors or the various visiting doctors were doing? People were being put in these institutions for just being bold, for being pregnant or whatever. I will not go over the litany of ways in which people were put into the institutions but none of them deserved to be there. Did people know exactly what was going on? People knew the laundries were there and I apologise on my own behalf while asking whether people knew precisely what was going on. While we did not know exactly, we all accepted it. I am glad it is now out of the open and one must pay tribute to the people who did that. I am positive that not everyone in the laundries was cruel and I have also heard good stories, which must be noted. However, the order was to obey authority and the rules of the day. There were lots of rules on morality where social control dominated. Where were the rules of justice or about the dignity of the person? Women who were denied contraception were locked up for being pregnant. One can tell them that one believes them. While I must conclude because my time is up, I have so much to say. The women must be congratulated on the work they have put in. I will conclude by stating that all of the churches must step up to the plate, in addition to the State, in respect of the redress scheme. I thank the Minister of State and note that rather than dwelling on the past, we will go forward.