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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 Donie Keyes
    Favourite Donie Keyes
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:50 PM

    Now this is the duo for the Eurovision instead of Nicky nobody! Raw natural talent can’t be beaten! Well done lads.

    256
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    Mute Owen Lynch
    Favourite Owen Lynch
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    Mar 6th 2016, 9:34 AM

    These lads can chant .

    10
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    Mute Emer Caffrey
    Favourite Emer Caffrey
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    Mar 6th 2016, 5:58 PM

    don’t kill their careers before they even start

    3
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    Mute James Darcy
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:06 PM

    Good man Glen and Co! Brother Ben would be proud!…

    125
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    Mute Louise Ní Riain
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:10 PM

    Brilliant

    117
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    Mute Oran Joyce
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:09 PM

    Whenever I see a singer with his hands in his pockets I just know he’s going to be ace.

    103
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    Mute Chantelle Hughes
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:19 PM

    Just, wow!! Gave me chills.

    92
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    Mute Andrew Farrell
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:15 PM

    Heard these lads a couple of years ago, absolutely brilliant, these are international stars, they would sell worldwide, keep it up lads, big things expected

    91
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    Mute Mondoburley
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:00 PM

    AdeadlyAdelemAdeley

    59
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    Mute John O Neill
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    Mar 5th 2016, 3:59 PM

    Adele better watch out

    57
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    Mute REA North*s
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:09 PM

    Stunning !

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    Mute Eddie Barrett
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:18 PM

    Fabulous voices

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    Mute Charles Williams
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:31 PM

    Very good and very different.

    43
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    Mute Denis Silver
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    Mar 5th 2016, 11:39 PM

    She brought them up on stage today and got them sing the medley …result standing ovation and even more respect for Adele

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    Mute john dunne
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:18 PM

    Genius

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    Mute Kevin Lynch
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:04 PM

    beautiful

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    Mute Mark Fitzmaurice
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:23 PM

    Fair play lads. Gorgeous

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    Mute Has-an
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:12 PM

    What a voice.

    25
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    Mute moe
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:08 PM

    That was class lads . Fair play to yeh .

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    Mute Christopher murray
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:29 PM

    They have some covers on YouTube under the name trillogy too. Well worth a look

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    Mute Has-an
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    Mar 5th 2016, 6:13 PM

    What a voice!

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    Mute Stephen Luco
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    Mar 5th 2016, 7:59 PM

    Very Good

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Mar 5th 2016, 4:34 PM

    Ronan is very good but Glenn’s where the money’s at.

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    Mute Emer Caffrey
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:31 PM

    Ronan is a fabulous composer, Glen’s voice is pure velvet

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    Mute cníchi
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    Mar 5th 2016, 10:39 PM

    Lovely harmonies

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    Mute Catherine O'Connor
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    Mar 5th 2016, 8:58 PM

    WOW!!!

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    Mute Scott Kincaid
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    Mar 6th 2016, 9:59 AM

    I just keep seeing James Corden.

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    Mute D'Murph
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    Mar 6th 2016, 10:15 AM

    Exceptional… We should send these two to the Eurovision.

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    Mute Patrick Agnew
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:14 PM

    The guys in the high kings group would wipe the floor with them. They are very good though.

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    Mute Dermot Lane
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    Mar 5th 2016, 5:23 PM

    High Kings = plastic paddies

    62
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