Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and thank him yet again for another piece of positive and progressive legislation in terms of redress. As Senator Kelleher said, all of us as legislators have only one obligation, which is to ensure that the women receive redress. I know the Minister has been very much to the fore in finding a pathway forward.

Tonight's debate is again an indication of where we have come from and a sign of the unfortunate way in which this country has struggled for decades to deal with our dark past. While we recognise that we cannot undo what happened and we cannot airbrush it or forget it, it is important that those who suffered in many institutions are remembered and get support and that it is done in a way that is compassionate and humane. It is also important that the Government strives to ensure that those who suffered receive the justice and support they require. That must be done in all cases.

Since the publication of the Quirke report six years ago, many of the proposals have been put in place to provide recognition, compassion and support to the women affected by our dark past. The Magdalen restorative justice ex gratiascheme for women has been expanded and today's Bill adds further to what we are doing. It is about providing a range of health services at no charge to the women who stood so valiantly through dark times. In addition, the Bill provides for ex gratiapayments to survivors who were not included in any financial assessment of means under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009. The provisions have allowed for greater health and financial security for women affected by Magdalen laundries. The reason I pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is because to be fair to him, he has been strong in what he is trying to achieve. He is part of a Government that is trying to redress the imbalance and to ensure the supports are put in place. We must remember that the Bill before us today hopes to expand on the support the Government has given to women who have been very wronged by society and the State. I am pleased the Bill will pass Second Stage tonight.

If you do not mind, Acting Chairman, I will digress for a moment. Last Sunday I attended the Bessborough commemoration event on a very wet day in Cork city. It was moved indoors because of the inclement weather. A memorial was created by the artist Jill Dinsdale which was on the grounds of Bessborough last Sunday. It is a wooden sculpture in the form of a circle. Each plank of timber with a scar represents a mother or baby that died in Bessborough. In addition to the story of what happened, the sad part is that many have no idea where the babies are today. I was struck by the beautiful memorial, which needs a permanent home either in the folly in Bessborough which is now closed or somewhere in Cork city. The event was a gathering of women and their families who have suffered and who are looking to have their lives rebuilt or in some cases they are looking for answers. A number of the women were angry and upset. One of the phrases I left with was about us as citizens and legislators trying to restore dignity. That is the reason I attended. Some people might have felt that my presence there as a member of a Government party was perhaps wrong, but I went there in solidarity and support of the Bessborough women, one or two of whom are friends of mine. They came out of Bessborough to tell their story and to help shape society in a better way. For that reason I am very pleased that the Bill has come to the House. I hope that the stories of the 904 babies can be heard and that we can get answers. The whereabouts of only 64 of the babies have been identified in Bessborough. Tonight, the Government is doing a piece of work which adds to what has been done already and I thank the Minister for his work. As Senator Kelleher inferred, we all have a duty and obligation which we are trying to live up to.