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

Yes. For the record, there is no gagging order attached to this waiver. However, I take the Senator's point. County homes were added to the commission's remit even though the vast majority closed much earlier than mother and baby homes. In many ways they were seen as a successor to county homes. The reason county homes were in the original investigation, and payments sought is because of the particularly bad conditions that existed in those institutions. This legislation seeks to recognise that. This legislation is also cognisant of the fact that county homes changed and evolved. Some of the successors of county homes still exist and are providing services in Irish society. Some of them are still providing maternity services. As the legislation was previously designed, people who had availed of mainstream maternity services, irrespective of their marital situation could potentially access the scheme. All of us understand, whether one agrees with this scheme or not, that the basis for it was for people who had institutional experience of county and mother and baby institutions. We are seeking to make that distinction in terms of the amendments coming forward. I accept the Senator has a particular concern as regards the waiver and its breadth. I think the amendment I am bringing forward provides an opportunity. I know it does not go as far as the Senator wants, but it will maybe give a greater degree of clarity on that point.