‘It’s dead in the water’ – Kilkenny TD says controversy over Mother and Baby Homes report must not delay redress for survivors

A local TD who heads up an inflential Dáil committee has said the latest controversy over the Mother and Baby Homes inquiry must not be allowed to delay redress for survivors.

Deputy Kathleen Funchion was speaking after the three members of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission rejected calls for them to appear before the Oireachtas Children’s Committee.

The Carlow-Kilkenny TD wanted the commissioners to explain why survivors’ testimonies given to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission were not included in their controversial report.

Weekend reports said the Cabinet is set to consider plans to appoint an independent expert who will examine and report on testimony given by survivors.

But Deputy Funchion stressed there cannot be any further delays to redress for survivors.

The Sinn Féin children’s spokesperson told the Irish Mail on Sunday: “There cannot be any further delays to redress and to medical cards for the survivors. The minister and his department must immediately engage in close and intense consultations with survivors and listen to what they have to say.”

Deputy Funchion also questioned the efficacy of any review carried out by an independent expert if it focuses only on the commission report.

She added: “There is no going back for the report – it’s dead in the water. The question now is how can we move on and ensure survivors’ voices are heard.

“I won’t support a review that is going to just look at the report – it needs to look at the entire process and see what we have and build on that rather than starting all over again and putting survivors through that process all over again.”