Survivors ‘failed by state’: Irish PM

The Irish premier has apologised for the “profound generational wrong” on the survivors of homes for unmarried mothers and their children.

Micheal Martin said the mothers and children were failed by the state.

Speaking in the Irish parliament, the Dail, the taoiseach said: “I apologise for the shame and stigma which they were subjected to and which, for some, remains a burden to this day.

“In apologising, I want to emphasise that each of you were in an institution because of the wrongs of others.

“Each of you is blameless, each of you did nothing wrong and has nothing to be ashamed of.

“Each of you deserved so much better.

“The Irish State, as the main funding authority for t h e m a j o r i ty of these institutions, had the ultimate ability to exert control over these institutions, in addition to its duty of care to protect citizens with a robust regulatory and inspection regime.

“This authority was not exerted and the state’s duty of care was not upheld.

“The state failed you, the mothers and children in these homes.”

Mr Martin said it duty of a republic is the to be willing to account.

He said the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes report recognises a “profound failure of empathy”.

The report found that the institutions for women who fell pregnant out of wedlock produced high levels of infant mortality, m isogyny and stigmatisation of some of society’s most vulnerable.

Many mother and baby homes were run by Catholic nuns.

The taoiseach said that the government will imp lemen t the recommendations set out by the commission. hold itself to

Mr Martin said that a suite of memorialisation, educational and research commitments will support national reflection and enduring remembrance.

The government pledged to introduce information and tracing legislation as well as bringing in a range of supports to allow the survivors to access personal information.

Among its findings, the report exposed the “appalling” levels of death among the very youngest – more than o n e - i n -1 0 children.

Some of the institutions were owned and run by the local health authorities while others were owned and run by religious orders.

SORRY: Taoiseach Micheal Martin issued apology.