Labour Senators oppose rushing of Mother and Baby Homes Bill through Seanad

Labour Senators have today criticised the hasty manner in which the Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes) Report Bill is being rushed through the Seanad by the Government.

Speaking on the Bill, Seanad Group Leader Senator Ivana Bacik said, “Simply put, more time is needed. It has become very clear this week from our Second Stage debate on the Bill in the Seanad this Wednesday, and from the large number of emails and correspondence that we have received from survivors and others, that too much remains uncertain about this Bill for it to be rushed like this. 

“Labour has put down several amendments on the Bill and we will be expressing our views strongly today during Committee and Report stages; we believe it is owed to survivors and their families that more time is provided for deliberation on the issues in this Bill and that their interests are represented within the Bill.”

“Labour’s amendments deal with issues relating to the transfer to Tusla of custody of records and also to access by survivors and families to records concerning them, even if that means disapplying the 30 year sealing rule.

“All of us have spent the week responding to emails and phone calls from people who have concerns and questions on the Bill. We Labour Senators also know that Government senators and Minister O’Gorman will have received the same level of correspondence, and we hope that they will take what has been said by so many people to heart. We are asking the Minister to support Labour’s amendments this afternoon.”