Cllr Chris Pender has called on the Government to make the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation report available to survivors in the most accessible ways possible.
Earlier this week, the commission reported on the harrowing deaths of over 9,000 babies in institutions across Ireland. Following on from the State apology, Newbridge based Social Democrats councillor Chris Pender has written to Minister O’Gorman outlining ways that the report can be made more accessible.
Cllr Pender said:
“The State has failed the survivors already. We must do everything in our power to rectify this. I am calling for this report to be made available in every public library; for it to be produced in ISL and braille; and for copies to be made available in audio format for those who have literacy issues.
“It is so important that the State goes above and beyond to put the survivors at the heart of the response to the report. All the testimonies are a stain on Irish society and have rightly made international headlines.
“The commission’s report noted that local authorities played a role in the facilitation of the mother and baby home scandal. I believe that local authorities now have to rectify their errors.”
Cllr Pender, while welcoming the State apology, also called for the full spectrum of medical and counselling services to be made available to survivors.
He added:
“In acknowledging its failures, the State needs to provide more than a redress scheme. We need to provide the fullest support to all the survivors who need to access to services. This has been a shameful week for Ireland.
“I wish to pay tribute to the survivors who made sure that their voices were heard.”
January 15, 2021
NOTE TO EDITOR:
Copy of Cllr Pender’s letter to Minister O’Gorman here