Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

What happened in Tuam represents a stain on our national conscience. This Bill will allow us at last to offer the children interred at that site in Tuam a dignified and respectful burial. The Government is committed to a full-scale forensic excavation of the site and this legislation is essential to deliver that. My sincere hope is this will finally bring some form of solace and closure to the families and survivors who have been so deeply affected by this abhorrent situation. I have met with many survivors and family members, as have Members of this House, and I thank them for their generosity in sharing the impact on them of what the State allowed happen in Tuam.

I take this opportunity to single out the work of Catherine Corless and her tireless dedication to uncovering what happened in this location and ensuring the public and the State never forgot those children. Much of what we are achieving as a House and an Oireachtas today is due to her work. I thank the Senators and Deputies who spent so much time working on this legislation. I believe we have greatly strengthened the legislation through the pre-legislative scrutiny process and the process in both Houses. I thank my officials for their extremely hard work and engagement on this legislation.Subject to the enactment of this legislation, I hope to commence it immediately. I will then seek Government approval to make an order under it establishing an office of the Tuam director of authorised interventions. The draft order will then be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Once approved, the office of the Tuam director of authorised interventions will be established. A director will be appointed with a view to starting excavation at the site in Tuam as quickly as possible.