Debate contribution: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Further Consideration Stage
Debate contribution by Miss Áine Murphy on .
- MLA
- Miss Áine Murphy
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 22 June 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Executive Committee Business
- Heading
- Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Further Consideration Stage
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5638623
Read the official Assembly record
Text
At the outset, I declare an interest, as my mother previously resided in a mother-and-baby home that is listed in schedule 2 to the Bill. Before I address the group 1 amendments, I pay tribute to the victims and survivors whose experiences have brought us to this point. I know that many are watching, and some are with us in the Public Gallery. I welcome the group 1 amendments, which will strengthen the Bill's truth recovery elements. In particular, I welcome amendment Nos 4 and 5, which will enhance the inquiry's ability to seek documents, records and evidence from outside this and other jurisdictions. Throughout the Committee's scrutiny, survivors highlighted concerns about records being held beyond this jurisdiction and the difficulties that they had faced in accessing information about their lives and experiences. The amendments recognise that reality and help ensure that the inquiry can follow the evidence wherever it leads it. I also welcome amendment No 6, which provides for the recording and reporting of instances where documents or other pieces of evidence are not provided without reasonable excuse. Transparency will be critical to the credibility of the entire process. Survivors deserve to know not only what evidence has been made available to the inquiry but where efforts to obtain information have been frustrated or, in some cases, refused. Amendment No 8 will give the inquiry chair greater flexibility to publish reports earlier, where necessary or appropriate. Survivors have waited far too long for answers. Where findings are ready to be shared, unnecessary delays should be avoided. Amendment No 8 will help ensure that information can be made available in a timely manner and where it is in the public interest to do so. Taken together, the amendments strengthen the inquiry's ability to establish the truth, secure relevant evidence and provide survivors with the answers and accountability that they have sought and fought for for so many years. For those reasons, we will support all the amendments in group 1.
331 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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