Minister must prioritise survivors and publish Sheila Nunan’s final report on Mother and Baby Homes redress without delay – Claire Kerrane TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children, Disability, and Equality, Claire Kerrane TD, has called on Minister Norma Foley to prioritise the publication of Sheila Nunan’s final report on Mother and Baby Homes redress.

Deputy Kerrane was responding to today’s news that government negotiator Sheila Nunan has submitted a final report with conclusions from talks with seven Catholic bodies and the Church of Ireland.

Teachta Kerrane said:

“Minister Foley has assured survivors that they will receive this report prior to publication.

“However, disappointingly, some aspects of the report have already leaked and are now in the public domain.

“It is unacceptable that survivors are, once again, some of the last to know the details of reports that relate to them.

“Minister Foley must end this speculation as to the contents of the report and prioritise Survivors by publishing this report in full without delay.

“For too long, the needs of survivors have come second.

“This latest debacle is just the latest in a long line of failures by successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments that have prioritised religious orders over survivors.

“It is beyond belief that the government has continued to engage and negotiate with religious orders and ask them to pay into the fund rather than compel them to do so.

“Of course, it must be said that the scheme itself is utterly flawed.

“Excluding 24,000 survivors on the basis of a six-month rule or because of certain institutions being excluded is cruel and unnecessary, and must be rectified.

“Survivors have already suffered enough – the Minister must publish this report immediately.”