Annie Hoey (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support the amendment. Last week I was on "The Late Debate" and I was very surprised at the number of people who messaged me afterwards to say they did not realise that some people in mother and baby homes were subject to vaccine trials. They did not realise the extent of the ill-treatment of mixed-race children and their families. They were surprised that they were not included in the legislation. I do not have much more to add, other than to say we were speaking about it on "The Late Debate" and people said they did not know this had happened. They had heard about the women and about people being bordered out. People had heard different things. There are things people have not heard of and they were surprised that they are not being included.

On that programme a member of a Government party said the reason the Government will not give the payment to the people who were in there for only six months is during the consultation period, those who were in there for six months or less said they would prefer to have their records. Is this the reason it happened? I find it hard to believe that we could not have given them their records and a small financial amount. A Government Deputy said this on radio. I am interested to hear whether this is the Government's response.

I support the amendment. People contacted me to say they were surprised to hear additional things happened in these homes. They were surprised to hear the people involved would not be included under this legislation.