‘Appalled and disgusted’ – Kilkenny TD says Mother and Baby Homes report must be scrapped

A local TD has said the controversial Mother and Baby Homes report cannot stand and must be rejected.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee, said members of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission have treated survivors with ‘absolute contempt’ following their refusal to appear before the Oireachtas.

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD said she only learned of the commission’s decision to decline an invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Committee through media reports.

She added: “The Commissioners’ work has been severely undermined by their recent actions and survivors no longer have confidence in their work.

“Last week I wrote to the Commissioners and invited them to come before the Committee to answer vital questions about the way in which the report was handled.

“I was shocked to hear through media reports this afternoon that this invitation has been declined.

“By declining my invitation, the Commissioners are missing an opportunity to be open, transparent and answer questions survivors have about the processes used in their report. I believe that such a step would have been to the benefit for all involved,” Deputy Funchion added.

She once more called on the commission members to meet with the survivors.

Deputy Funchion said: “As I outlined to the Commissioners, it is not unreasonable for survivors to get answers to questions they have about a report which has such profound implications for their lives.

“To be frank, the Commissioners have treated survivors with absolute contempt instead of the respect they deserve.

“I am appalled and disgusted at how survivors have been treated throughout this process. They came forward and bravely told the truth, often at huge personal cost, because they believed in exposing the reality of what happening in these institutions.

“It is now clear that the report cannot stand and must be repudiated. Survivors need solutions and action must be taken in consultation with survivors to put a plan in place to address this,” Deputy Funchion concluded.