# mother-and-baby homes

All time

Evening Wrap

The 5 at 5 Five minutes, five stories, five o’clock…

3.6k

Jun 16th 2021, 4:58 PM

# High Court

Mother and Baby Homes: State argues that Philomena Lee and others taking legal action aren't recognisable in report

A number of survivors are seeking judicial reviews of the Commission of Investigation’s final report.

A number of survivors are seeking judicial reviews of the Commission of Investigation's final report

The Government is set to argue that Lee and others taking legal action are not identifiable in the final report, Órla Ryan reports

It will also stress the fact that, although set up by the Government, the Commission acted independently

18.7k

Jun 16th 2021, 10:00 AM

# Kathleen Funchion

Committee 'disappointed' by commissioners' refusal to attend meeting but 'accepts it'

The Oireachtas Children’s Committee will work “very closely with the minister and the department regarding the next steps”.

8.5k

Jun 15th 2021, 4:13 PM

# GDPR

'Rape' and 'incest' listed as 'current relationship status' options on Commission form

A survivor’s daughter says the approach is “incomprehensible” and raises “serious questions”.

A survivor's daughter says the approach is "incomprehensible" and raises "serious questions"

The woman's form is "littered with inaccuracies" and "in no way" captures her suffering

"In what world is rape or incest a relationship status?"

105k

Jun 13th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Commission

'I am fuming, it's so disrespectful': Survivors react to commissioners' refusal to appear before Oireachtas

‘What the nuns said was sacrosanct, whereas our trauma was dismissed as stories’

Mother and Baby Home survivors say recent developments have silenced them all over again, Órla Ryan reports

One of the women taking legal action against the Commission's findings says she will continue to fight for justice

The commissioners have refused the latest invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Children's Committee

19.4k

Jun 12th 2021, 12:10 AM

# questions and no answers

Varadkar says refusal by Mother and Baby Homes commissioners to face Oireachtas is 'deeply regrettable'

The committee members found out about the refusal in the media.

A first invitation was sent in February and a second in June

Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have urged the commissioners to answer questions

Oireachtas committee members unaware of the invite refusal until after the letter was reported

40.0k

Updated

Jun 11th 2021, 8:02 PM

# Roderic O'Gorman

Minister tells survivors he believes them as opposition call report 'whitewashed fiction'

Roderic O’Gorman has told survivors that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was not prohibited from using their testimony.

Roderic O'Gorman has told survivors that the Commission into Mother and Baby Homes was not prohibited from using their testimony

"For my own part, I want to be clear - you are believed," the minister said

Survivors and relatives have said the latest revelations are "insulting" and "dehumanising", Órla Ryan writes

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Updated

Jun 8th 2021, 9:50 PM

# Data Protection

Data regulator wrote repeatedly to Mother & Baby Home Commission about handling of sensitive testimony

The Data Protection Commissioner raised concerns about the handling of survivor testimony and delays in responding to queries.

18.9k

Jun 7th 2021, 6:26 PM

# Mary Daly

Pressure mounts on Mother and Baby Home commissioners as Oireachtas committee reissues invite

The invitation asks the commissioners to attend a meeting on 17 June.

Pressure is mounting on the commissioners to appear before the Oireachtas Children's Committee, Órla Ryan writes

The invitation asks the commissioners to attend a meeting on 17 June

Over 100 academics and historians have signed a letter outlining their concerns with the Commission's final report

25.1k

Updated

Jun 4th 2021, 3:25 PM

# Legal Action

How legal threats and the Ryan Commission's legacy impacted Mother and Baby Home inquiry

The potential legal action of survivors – which has become a reality in several cases – was seemingly not given the same consideration as legal action from religious orders.

The potential legal action of survivors was seemingly not given the same consideration as legal action from religious orders, Órla Ryan writes

The Ryan Commission into child abuse continues to impact how we treat survivors of institutional abuse, a human rights lawyer has argued

There is mounting pressure for the commissioners to appear before the Oireachtas

17.1k

Jun 3rd 2021, 5:53 PM

# Mary Daly

'Yet another blow to survivors': Women get few answers as Commissioner defends report

A number of Mother and Baby Home survivors finally got to hear from a Commissioner today – it did not go to plan.

Commissioner defends Mother and Baby Home report in first public comments, saying 'ultra legal' approach was needed

'My view is we've done a job and, basically, let's let others go and take it further,' Professor Mary Daly said

The evidence given by hundreds of survivors to the Confidential Committee was essentially discounted, Órla Ryan writes

45.7k

Jun 2nd 2021, 9:51 PM

# Oxford University

Survivors and politicians express anger over Mother and Baby Home event

Members of the Oireachtas Children’s Committee have criticised the fact that Professor Mary Daly will appear “behind closed doors”.

25.2k

Updated

Jun 2nd 2021, 3:30 PM

# Concert

'Women would disappear and no one said anything': Breaking the silence on mother and baby homes

Survivors, adoptees and Christy Moore will perform in an event at the National Concert Hall tonight.

17.6k

May 29th 2021, 6:30 AM

# Data Protection

People identified in Mother and Baby Home records asked to contact Department of Children

The department is asking for individuals’ contact details in case their data is in records requested under GDPR.

9.9k

May 28th 2021, 5:52 PM

# Cork

'Significant victory' for campaigners as planning permission for Bessborough apartments is refused

An Bord Pleanála said it is “not satisfied that the site was not previously used as, and does not contain, a children’s burial ground”.

21.0k

Updated

May 26th 2021, 2:18 PM

# identification of remains

DNA testing for Mother and Baby Home sites could include 'aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews'

The minister has discussed plans for “very significant DNA-based identification process”.

8.5k

May 18th 2021, 5:40 PM

# Adoptions

'Groundbreaking' legislation will give adopted people access to birth certs and early life information

Under the new law, even if a birth parent says they don’t want their child to get their birth cert or related information, the adopted person will still get access.

The legislation will provide a clear right of access for adopted people and others with questions on their origins to birth certs, birth and early life information.

The Bill will have to first undergo pre-legislative scrutiny, which is expected to take place in the coming months.

A separate memo addressing the issue of illegal birth registrations was brought to Cabinet this morning.

46.6k

Updated

May 11th 2021, 5:45 PM

# Child Protection

New helpline for Mother and Baby Home survivors concerned about risk still posed by abuser

Tusla said perpetrators may have been involved in the abuse of multiple children over time.

6.8k

May 5th 2021, 6:39 PM

# long lost sisters

Geraldine was born in St Patrick's, her sister Pauline was born in Bessborough - 50 years later they found each other

Four years ago a social worker “stumbled across” information that would change their lives forever.

Both women sought to find their birth parents, but instead discovered each other, Órla Ryan writes

A social worker 'stumbled across' information that changed their lives forever

They say adopted people have a right to their birth certs and medical history

51.9k

May 2nd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Abuse

Drew Harris says Mother and Baby Home crimes 'difficult to prosecute' despite reports of rape and incest

An Garda Síochána has found “insufficient evidence” in the Commission’s report to start any criminal investigations.

17.7k

Updated

Apr 29th 2021, 5:55 PM

# Meeting

O'Gorman stresses GSK's 'moral obligation' over vaccine trials but company's position 'remains unchanged'

Representatives from the pharmaceutical giant met with Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman today.

34.4k

Updated

Apr 28th 2021, 3:22 PM

# burials bill

Bessborough survivor says more women 'will die not knowing if their child is rotting in a septic tank'

The Children’s Committee today discussed legislation that would allow exhumations and re-interment of remains at the sites of former mother and baby institutions.

15.9k

Updated

Apr 27th 2021, 6:15 PM

# dept of children

Illegal adoption investigator says she was treated 'disrespectfully and in an unprofessional manner' by Dept

She lodged a complaint about the department’s ‘failure to comply with the assurances’ provided to her.

48.5k

Apr 25th 2021, 12:05 AM

# history repeating itself

'My foster father wiped down everything I touched': Call to tackle racism in social care

Ireland is repeating the mistakes of mother and baby homes, social workers have warned.

53.1k

Apr 24th 2021, 8:00 PM

# Cork

'It's a children's burial ground': Expert claims map of Bessborough site is correct

Survivors have criticised plans to build apartments at the site of a former mother and baby institution.

18.9k

Updated

Apr 22nd 2021, 3:20 PM

# Cork

Survivors call plan to build apartments at Bessborough site 'an abhorrent act of desecration'

The developer has said it is “highly unlikely” the land in question is a burial site, but that this can’t be ruled out.

31.3k

Updated

Apr 21st 2021, 6:00 PM

# AMRI

UN asked to intervene over Ireland's response to 'systemic racism' in mother and baby homes

The Association of Mixed Race Irish has asked the United Nations to visit Ireland and investigate institutional racism here.

14.3k

Apr 16th 2021, 6:00 AM

# burials bill

'Is she dead or alive?': Call for inquests into deaths at mother and baby homes

One Tuam survivor told the Oireachtas Children’s Committee he wants to know if his sister is buried at the site, or still alive.

Inquests must be carried out into all deaths at mother and baby homes, Oireachtas told

One Tuam survivor wants to know if his sister is buried at the site, or still alive

Ireland 'must meet its domestic and international human rights obligations'

18.7k

Updated

Apr 14th 2021, 6:00 PM

# burials bill

'There can be no more messing about': Push for law to allow exhumations at mother and baby homes

Legislation being debated today would allow excavations, exhumations and re-interment of remains at the sites of former mother and baby homes.

Legislation being debated today would allow excavations, exhumations and re-interment of remains at the sites of former mother and baby homes

Catherine Corless says as many sites as possible must be included

"The babies should have been taken out of there in 2017 when they were found," she says of Tuam

10.9k

Apr 14th 2021, 12:05 AM

# High Court

Philomena Lee among women taking legal action against findings in Mother and Baby Home report

Lee’s life story was made into an award-winning film, Philomena, in 2013.

70.2k

Updated

Apr 12th 2021, 3:40 PM

# Adoption

'Imagine someone clicked their fingers and you had no family or history, that's the reality for thousands of us'

Adopted people have called for long-awaited tracing and information legislation to be published as a matter of urgency.

13.5k

Apr 6th 2021, 4:46 PM

# Redress

'Pay us and acknowledge what happened': Mother and baby home survivors want compensation and a remembrance day

Some survivors have also called on the government to take legal action against the religious orders who ran the institutions if they refuse to pay financial compensation.

28.6k

Apr 4th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Email Addresses

Department apologises after 'careless' data breach of people attending mother and baby home redress meetings

Those affected by the breach are “deeply upset and distressed” by the sharing of their email addresses without their consent.

21.6k

Mar 25th 2021, 4:12 PM

# Bethany Home

Campaigner Derek Leinster says Protestant survivors and those living abroad 'not a priority' for redress

Leinster, who was born in Bethany Home in Dublin in 1941, has campaigned for redress for over 20 years.

22.2k

Mar 25th 2021, 6:05 AM

# Mother and Baby

UN asked to request that Irish govt sets up independent investigation into Mother and Baby Homes

The Irish Council of Civil Liberties has written a letter to the UN Special Rapporteur.

10.3k

Mar 24th 2021, 8:29 AM

# Commission

'I spent 28 years wondering where my child was, they were 45 minutes down the road'

A number of survivors of mother and baby homes have raised concerns about how their requests for personal files are being dealt with by the Department of Children.

96.4k

Mar 20th 2021, 8:00 AM

# OAK Consulting

Department says consulting firm was hired due to 'urgency' in setting up mother and baby home redress scheme

The government has hired OAK Consulting to oversee the consultation process at a cost of €20,000.

16.8k

Mar 17th 2021, 9:30 AM

# birth certs

O'Gorman says adopted people will get birth certs and other information under new legislation

The minister has also launched a consultation process for a redress scheme for survivors of Mother And Baby Homes.

19.0k

Updated

Mar 10th 2021, 5:10 PM

# birth registration

Report into illegal adoptions estimates there are thousands of 'suspicious' files, but advises against inquiry

Minister Roderic O’Gorman says “deep ethical issues” arise in relation to illegal birth registrations, and an inquiry may still happen.

10.3k

Mar 9th 2021, 4:26 PM

# Investigation

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.

12.4k

Feb 27th 2021, 6:37 PM