David Cullinane (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday I raised the issue of the Magdalen laundries and the refusal of the religious orders to face up to their moral, ethical and financial responsibilities to the women concerned. I also asked the Leader if he would impress upon the Taoiseach the need for him to be more forceful on the issue. I was not at all persuaded by the Taoiseach's contribution in the Dáil yesterday. The State has a responsibility to be much more insistent, to say the least, with the religious orders to force them to face up to their responsibilities. Equally, the religious orders have to look to themselves. If they seek redemption and want to redeem themselves for the horrors of the past and what the women concerned went through in the Magdalen laundries, they must face up to their responsibilities and contribute to the redress scheme.

There is also the issue of the survivors of Bethany Home. They also deserve justice. It was a disgrace that they were excluded from the residential institutions redress scheme. We know Bethany Home was not just a mother and baby home but that it was also a home for children and bore all of the characteristics of the Magdalen laundries and the inhumane treatment people suffered. The State inspection of Bethany Home, under the Maternity Home Act, showed that there was horrendous neglect. Again, the State has a responsibility to face up to its failure to protect children and women. The survivors also need justice. I understand the Taoiseach gave a commitment yesterday that the Cabinet would discuss the issue next week. I hope we will all use our collective influence to make sure the Taoiseach does the right thing by the survivors of Bethany Home. He made a very powerful and emotive speech a number of months ago in the Dáil on the survivors of the Magdalen laundries and it was universally accepted and commended. He must also do the right thing by the survivors of Bethany Home. Will Senators and the Leader raise this issue with the Taoiseach in advance of the Cabinet meeting next week?