Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I raise a matter related to agriculture. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine appeared in the Chamber earlier and we discussed important issues such as diversification and the challenges facing communities. In particular, we spoke about the beef crisis, although I do not intend to rehash all of that now. We had a meaningful engagement and discussion. The Minister spoke about developing and appointing new agricultural attachés in a number of embassies. As I was leaving the Chamber earlier, it occurred to me that the Leader might be able to arrange for the Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, who has special responsibility for horticulture, to appear before the House when he has a free slot in the next month or two. Important food related matters are traceability, quality and branding, not least in respect of Bord Bia, the expansion of new markets, and the diversification of agriculture, perhaps moving to a lesser reliance on beef.

This week a number of gentlemen who had resided in Tuam visited me with a member of Galway County Council. It was a harrowing and moving experience. The men were farmed out at seven years of age to do hard labour on farms. They were meant to consider it great charity. One of them told me he had been left a small holding but eventually had to sell it. The authorities did not accept that the man had been fostered. Although it was an informal arrangement, his guardians had loved and cared for him but he had to pay all the taxes and was left with nothing. It was very unfair. The men told me they did not have a medical card. They had been broken and destroyed by a system. They wanted independent counselling they could trust - not just the assistance that was given to them - and they needed greater help and support. They asked for health and housing supports. Surely the State owes that to people who come from institutions where it had a primary responsibility and duty to protect them and their welfare.The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, should come to the House to update us and to reassure us of what is happening, specifically regarding Tuam. It is important that the people affected know that we in these Houses are advocating for them and will support them. I ask that the Minister outline what the State can do in terms of providing medical cards for these people. What can we do in terms of housing for these people? What can we offer them in terms of independent counselling and support to allow them to get on and live their remaining years? How can we address the issue of inheritance from people who may have been their guardians and cared for them, people who stepped in as their parents and gave them a job, even if it meant picking potatoes or snagging a few turnips at the age of eight, nine or ten? We need to have the Minister back here to have a conversation and to be reassured that these issues are at the top of her agenda.