Debate contribution: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Final Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 30 June 2026.

MLA: Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 30 June 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Executive Committee Business
Heading: Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill: Final Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5653119

Text

Today is an important day because it is a day of accountability. I welcome to the Gallery all of the birth mothers, all of the adult adoptees and all of their family members. I thank everyone who has journeyed with you and loved you throughout the process. After a long legislative process, we have reached the Final Stage of the Bill. There has been detailed scrutiny, with difficult conversations and thoughtful debate along the way, and that is as it should be. However, before the Bill completes its passage through the Assembly, it is worth reminding ourselves why we began the journey in the first place. We are not here simply to pass legislation; we are here because of the women, children and families whose lives were changed for ever by mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. We are here because survivors refused to accept that their stories would remain untold. We are here because they never stopped asking for what should never have been so difficult to receive in the first place: recognition, dignity and justice. For many of us, today's debate marks the end of the legislative process, but, for survivors, I hope that it marks another step forward. It is not the end of their journey, because there is still work to do, but it is an important step nonetheless. One thing has stayed with me throughout the passage of the Bill. Every time that we debated amendments or discussed technical aspects of the legislation, I found myself thinking about the people behind those discussions. Behind every clause is a person; behind every amendment is someone's lived experience; and behind every decision that we make in the Chamber are people who have spent years carrying the consequences of decisions that they never made. That is why the legislation is so important. It is not that any Act of the Assembly can rewrite history, because it cannot. We cannot undo what happened, give people back the years that were taken from them or remove the hurt that so many survivors still carry, but we can acknowledge that what happened was wrong. We can recognise the profound harm that was caused, and, as a society, we can say that those who were failed have finally been heard. Sometimes, recognition can be as important as anything else. After decades of silence, being believed matters; having your experience acknowledged matters; and knowing that society finally accepts the truth matters deeply. That is what, I hope, the legislation provides. Throughout the process, I wanted to ensure that, where we could strengthen the Bill, we did. That is why I tabled the amendment to increase the standard payment from £10,000 to £12,000. I never viewed that amendment simply in financial terms, because no amount of compensation will make up for what survivors endured, no figure could ever reflect their pain, and the loss of the lasting impact that the institutions had on so many lives will never be overcome, but compensation is still an important recognition of the harm that was suffered. It is one way of acknowledging that people were profoundly failed. As time passed, I believed that the original figure no longer reflected the recognition as strongly as it should have done, so I was pleased that Members from across the Chamber supported that amendment. I hope that survivors saw that vote for what it was: a genuine attempt by the Assembly to strengthen the recognition in the legislation. None of us has reached that alone today. That is why I thank every survivor who found the courage to come forward and tell their story. Many did so knowing how painful it would be, and many relived experiences that no one should ever have endured. The courage that they have shown has changed this society. I also thank the families, campaign groups and advocates who have stood beside survivors over many years and never allowed the issue to slip from public attention. I do not want to name individuals, but change happened because you — all of you — refused to give up. I also acknowledge the work that has taken place behind the scenes. In particular, I have enjoyed working with Marie Breen Smyth, as she sensitively supported and advocated on behalf of every victim and survivor. I also thank the departmental officials: you were outstanding in the work that you did on the Bill. I also acknowledge the Ministers: your contributions have been considered and welcome.
To those in the Bill Office, thank you for the support, expertise and professionalism that you have shown through every stage of the Bill. I acknowledge Paula as Chair of the Committee and, indeed, all my Committee colleagues. It was an example of how, cross party, we can work together to deliver legislation that supports those who need it most: victims, survivors and families from across all communities.
It is often Members who receive the attention in debates such as this, but good legislation depends on the dedication and expertise of many people working quietly in the background. Today, we complete the legislative journey, but we should not pretend that justice begins and ends with the passing of a Bill. The redress scheme must now be delivered with compassion, the public inquiry must continue its work, survivors must continue to be listened to, and we must continue to seek answers to any unanswered questions. The responsibility does not end this afternoon; if anything, it becomes greater. When survivors look back on today, I hope that they will see more than another piece of legislation passing through the Assembly. I hope that they will see a society finally prepared to acknowledge the wrong that was done to them; a society prepared to listen; a society prepared to recognise their suffering; and a society committed to ensuring that what happened will never be forgotten or repeated. The Bill cannot change the past, but it can mark another important step on the journey towards justice. For that reason, the SDLP is proud to support it at Final Stage.

1,012 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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