Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I wish to pose some queries and set out the Sinn Féin stance regarding some of these proposed amendments. We are concerned about amendments Nos. 2, 3, 5 and 7 in particular. I must be honest and say it looks like these proposed amendments are designed to restrict people's ability to apply for restitution. I wish to flag to the Minister that it is significant what Senator Boyhan has just said. He has flagged that the date beside St. Kevin's institution is incorrect. This proposed addition to the legislation concerning the concluding year worries me. Senator Ruane put it very well. This information is still being discovered and it is far from clear the State can be certain about these issues.

I spent several years in the Castlepollard institution. I also spoke to somebody else who knows Castlepollard very well this morning, and we are both of the view that the year 1971 is unlikely to be correct as a concluding year. Straightaway, then, we have two errors of fact in this one table. For this reason alone, I urge caution now. I reiterate that it looks to me as if these proposed amendments have been designed to further restrict people's ability to apply for compensation.