Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

I am grateful to Senator Boyhan for raising this important issue. To clarify for the Chamber, before I get to the specifics, as Senator Boyhan will appreciate, the mother and baby institutions payment scheme opened for applications in March 2024. It provides payments and health benefits to people who spent time in any of the mother and baby or county home institutions that were identified by the mother and baby homes commission of investigation. As Senator Boyhan knows, a large part of my work as Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora has been working with those survivors of institutional abuse, particularly in Great Britain and a not insignificant number in North America as well, who we have been desperately trying to get into the scheme. They are absolutely people who deserve the attention that for so long they did not get.

The institutions covered by the payment scheme are set out in Schedule 1 to the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023. As the Senator has laid out, Westbank orphanage, which was previously known as the Protestant home for orphan and destitute girls, or the Harold's Cross orphanage, was not investigated by the commission of investigation because it operated primarily as a residential children's home rather than as an institution providing ante- and post-natal facilities. In its second interim report, the commission outlined that Westbank orphanage may have been unfairly excluded from the residential institutions redress scheme, administered by the Department of Education and Youth. It did not consider that it would be appropriate to include Westbank in its terms of reference. The report states, “Westbank was not generally regarded as a mother and baby home but rather as an orphanage.” Chapter 2 of the social history section of the commission of investigation report details the different types of institutions that existed and whether they could be considered mother and baby institutions. Westbank orphanage is listed as a residential children's home. For this reason, it is not included in the mother and baby institutions payment scheme.

The proposals for the payment scheme were developed following extensive deliberations on the very complex issues in question. They were informed by consultation with survivors, as well as the recommendations of the commission of investigation and an interdepartmental working group. The Government ultimately decided on a scheme which is, in overall terms, significantly broader than those recommended by the commission.

The Government recognises there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions. If it were to come to light that an institution in respect of which the State had a regulatory or inspection function fulfilled a similar function with regard to single women and their children as those included in the payment scheme, section 49 of the Act provides that the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, may insert an additional institution into the Schedule.

I believe the opportunity that lies before us this morning is to continue the process the Senator started to right what is an historical injustice, particularly in relation to the Westbank home. I give my personal commitment to Senator Boyhan, on the floor of this Chamber, that we will take this forward together, engage with the line Minister and get this included. That is only right and just. I will play my full part in everything that is required to make that happen. I will ensure the Tánaiste will also do so, and he has asked me to convey that to the Senator here on the floor of the House.