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Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Social Democrats vote unanimously to push government towards clear redress scheme for Mother and Baby Home survivors

At the party’s national conference, Social Democrats voted to call on the government to prioritise addressing survivors’ concerns.

THE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS have passed a motion to push the government to set out a redress scheme for Mother and Baby Home survivors at its national conference this afternoon.

The motion sets out the party’s plan to call on the government to prioritise measures that address the concerns of survivors, including legislative change around access to personal information and records.

The Social Democrats voted to call on the government to set out “how they will introduce a proper redress scheme, in close consultation with survivors, and ensure the religious order contribute significantly and appropriately”.

The party has also committed to asking the government to set out how it will ensure proper investigations into the issues raised by the Commission of Investigation’s report, protection for burial sites, and the establishment of a dedicated criminal justice unit and human-rights compliant coroner’s inquests and exhumations.

The motion garnered strong support, with 235 members voting to accept it and no votes registered in opposition.

One person chose to abstain from the vote.

Speaking at the Social Democrats’ conference, TD Holly Cairns said that Ireland has “been dealing with decades of abuse at the hands of the State and religious orders”.

Cairns said that the state was forced to set up the Commission of Investigation “after the tragic discovery of hundreds of babies and children in a mass grave in a disused septic tank in Tuam”.

“The Commission was extended multiple time to allow it to do its work, yet the Government is denying survivors’ requests for a further extension so that questions about the accuracy of their testimonies and access to their data can be dealt with. This week, the Government allowed the Social Democrats’ motion on this issue to pass in the Dáil while at the same time refusing to give legislative effect to it,” she said.

“Concerns raised yesterday by the Data Protection Commissioner about the Commission of Investigation’s archives being handed over to the Minister for Children further highlight the need for an extension. This was supposed to be a truth-getting exercise, but we’ve just ended up with untruths and inaction from the Government.”

Campaigners gathered outside the office of the Commission in Dublin today in protest of how survivors have been treated.

Protesters are raising concerns over the handling of witness testimony and the representation of the survivors’ experiences.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, one survivor has said that her testimony to the Commission was “misrepresented” to a “shocking extent” and that important context was missing in the final report.

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    Mute David Walsh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:21 PM

    Can infect the brain but the body still works………is that not Facebook !!!

    130
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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:17 PM

    We have these in Ireland already they’re called the government, only they feed on other peoples money!!!

    64
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    Mute Les Rock
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:34 PM

    I detest the government too, but for the love of Jaysis that was poor.

    147
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    Mute Ian Martin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:04 PM

    @les rock: but true

    14
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    Mute Joseph Bosh
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:14 PM

    So basically some mad scientist could actually create the RAGE virus from 28 days later or the t-virus in resident evil…

    …on the plus side the wouldn’t have to just be hit in the brain. Anywhere will do.

    50
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    Mute Aidan Finn
    Favourite Aidan Finn
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:31 PM

    The government should send sports accessories and garden utensils for the coming zombie apocalypse. Make sure you store them with your iodine pill and government cheese.

    49
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    Mute Luca Costa
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:38 PM

    Better get out my copy of Don’t Stop Me Now and my snooker cues. Bring it on!!!

    41
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    Mute Yer auld one
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:55 PM

    Have you seen the specimens dragging themselves around the Liffey boardwalk! The Walking Dead don’t have a patch these dudes. Since they closed the section of boardwalk along Eden Quay it’s let them wander!!!!

    37
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    Mute Rory Mcloughlin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:37 PM

    Take a walk around Kilkenny on a Saturday night after 1am and you can see one quite clearly ;-)

    36
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    Mute cornflaker
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    Oct 30th 2012, 7:49 PM

    i remember walking around a lingerie shop a few years back in stephens green shopping centre near valentines day looking for a gift for the mrs. a lot of lads were doing the same thing. as i was browsing i saw the cashier say to her colleague with a look of digust “look at them, walking around with their mouths open like a bunch of f*%kin zombies…animals” jaysus.

    33
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    Mute Elbbit
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    Oct 30th 2012, 9:31 PM

    for those outside the capital…We have thousands of these zombies wandering the street. it amazing how they defy gravity and stay on there feet..while stringing a few words together takes them minutes….aaaaahhhhh heeeeerrrreeee buuuuud,leeeend uuuuuuussssss aaaaa feeeeewwww eeeeeeuuuurrrrrooooooooo

    30
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    Mute Stewie Griffin
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:45 PM

    I have my axe and chainsaw ready. Bring it on you undead motherf***ers

    29
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    Mute Daniel R
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:35 PM

    There’s a zombie apocalypse at every bus stop/school/ workplace every Monday morn. B grand sure.

    26
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    Mute Paul Corrigan
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    Oct 30th 2012, 8:44 PM

    Half the passengers on red line LUAS have had this for years

    21
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    Mute Brian Fitzpatrick
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    Oct 30th 2012, 6:47 PM

    Setup the cameras in the point village. Best location ever for a zombie movie!

    14
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    Mute James Patrick Smith
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    Oct 31st 2012, 9:26 AM

    I see a lot of Zombies going around in pajamas lately actually I think the Zombies would have more brain power

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    Mute Tommy Omalley
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    Nov 2nd 2012, 1:16 PM

    Ive got an idea for when the zombies attack! We get the car drive to the Winchester get a cup of tea and wait for it to all just blow over

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    Mute George L Rockwell
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    Oct 31st 2012, 1:27 PM

    It’s not a question of IF but a question of WHEN

    2
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