Mother and Baby Home survivors need to be listened to properly, a Clare TD has said while calling for support for a cross-party motion that is to go before the Dáil this Tuesday.
A redress scheme must meet the needs of survivors of Mother and Baby Homes, Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) stated on Monday morning, one day before Sinn Féin is to table a cross-party motion on the subject.
Aspects of the motion include a review of issues identified by survivors have identified within the scheme such as time-based criteria, the exclusion of children who were boarded out, access to the enhanced Medical Card and the failure to include some institutions. The motion also calls on the Government to immediately seek recourse from religious orders and pharmaceutical companies to contribute to the redress scheme.
Strong criticism of the current scheme was voiced by Deputy Wynne. “It’s time to respect Mother and Baby Homes survivors and their families. We are bringing this motion to stand up for survivors and ensure that their needs are respected. Survivors bravely came forward and told their stories, because they wanted to see justice. However, many have been left feeling deeply frustrated and let down by the appalling way in which the redress scheme has been designed. The scheme is an insult to survivors and totally fails to take into account their needs. This isn’t good enough. This government has failed survivors time and time again. This has to stop”.
Deputy Wynne said the support from her fellow TDs in Clare and across the country for the motion “is the very least that survivors deserve. The Government has treated them with complete contempt time and time again and it is long overdue that they be respected and that their needs are met. It is vital that the government engages with survivors, not just as a box ticking exercise but to genuinely listen to them and then act urgently to meet their needs”.
