Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have listened carefully to what the Minister has just said, and I heard that the Minister is now saying that those who spent more than six months in an institution are more likely to have suffered. I think that is effectively what he said. I also know, and I referred to it earlier, that the Minister is a man of law. I know he is familiar with the eggshell skull rule, which means that some people can suffer as much in one day in an institution as someone who has suffered over six months. Again, I put it to the Minister that the Government has created tiers of victimhood here. Those who spent less than 180 days in an institution get nothing, and those who spent 180 days or more there get some compensation. I have seen no justification from the Minister in terms of how that can be fair and just and how the Government has managed to exclude 24,000 survivors. I do not see how that is justified. I am waiting to hear a justification from the Minister and I would welcome clarification on it.