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

I completely understand where Senator Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group are coming from in putting forward this amendment, which we had the opportunity to discuss on Committee Stage. However, I am not able to accept it. It would only apply to people who submitted an affidavit. The ability to receive an apology would apply only to a certain category of those making an application under the scheme. As we discussed previously, the vast majority of people applying to the scheme will not need to make an affidavit. By way of the chief deciding officer looking at the records and seeing they were in one of the institutions for a certain period, they will automatically qualify for the particular payment. They will not be making any written submission. An apology scheme that is designed in such a way that only certain survivors, whose records are not in the database, can make an affidavit and, therefore, only they can use this particular approach to an apology, is not the best way to address the central issue Senator Flynn and the Civil Engagement Group are focusing on, which is the idea of a meaningful, individualised apology.

We are looking at that issue as part of the work we are doing on the records and by way of the memorial centre that will be opened on Seán McDermott Street and the survivor story scheme we are looking to bring forward. Within that, we are looking for a meaningful way by which survivors can have their experience in these institutions reflected on the historical record and obtain some sort of meaningful apology on behalf of the State. We have had the apology from the Taoiseach on a national basis but we are looking to see how something more individualised can be brought forward. This amendment would only apply to those who have provided any testimony or evidence. I know where the Senator is coming from in what is proposed but it does not meet the requirement to a sufficient extent. Therefore, I am not in a position to accept the amendment.