James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and, most importantly, the people in the Gallery, some of whom I have met before. Normally, I stand here proudly but today is not a day for pride. The terrible confirmation of what we suspected at Tuam casts a dark shadow across our society and the way that we have run that society over the decades since the foundation of the State.

While in the past we have always blamed the oppressor for many of our ills, this is something we did ourselves to our own citizens who were mothers with children. It was society-wide. Yes, the church has answers that it must give us, but so too does the State. However, in the course of my time as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I met many people who told me stories of their mothers being forced into the home by their families because of a misplaced sense of morality. How more misplaced could it be?

It is clear that the mothers and children were treated differently and fared poorly. The mortality rates in this group were multiples of those for the general population, notwithstanding how bad they were for the latter. It is also clear that much of it was due to the fact that the State would not act. Much of this ceased when the Social Welfare Act 1973 was introduced, so that mothers would have resources to support themselves and their babies. However, I met at least one woman who was not aware that these supports were available for her.

We have changed and, yes, we have had a children's referendum. We now have a Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, including her predecessors, along with children's rights in the Constitution. However, we still have children in trouble and other investigations that show dark places. This investigation will cover a lot of the other issues, such as children possibly being used as guinea pigs for vaccinations. In addition, there is the issue of children being given up for adoption. Many women claimed that they did not give informed consent, but were coerced into doing it.

I am pleased to see from the Minister's speech that she will look into expanding the areas covered by the commission. Previous speakers said they wish to have the commission's remit broadened. I believe that will be necessary but I would caution that if we broaden and expand it all at once, many of the people who wish to hear the truth before they pass from this earth will not get that opportunity. Doing it in a phased way, with the commission answering these questions first, has shown that if we focus we can get answers quickly and then move on to the next phase. I have no doubt that the Minister will do so.

What comes out of this must be a situation that ensures it can never happen again. As long as the vulnerable in our society are hidden from view and as long as there is no transparency, there can be no guarantee that those with evil intent and a will to abuse will not do so.

The Irish people and the State owe the victims of this neglect and cruelty an apology. I would like to take the opportunity today as an Irishman, a father, brother, son and doctor, to apologise to them.