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

Debate contribution by Mrs Linda Dillon on 24 June 2025.

MLA

Mrs Linda Dillon

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

24 June 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

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

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5046669

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the fact that we have finally got to a point at which we have legislation before the Assembly to provide for an inquiry and redress for the victims and survivors of mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses. It is a testament to the mothers and adoptees who have campaigned over many years and laid bare their souls to help us understand what they went through, which they should never have had to do but did. I know that many in the Chamber and many who came before us have met those mothers and adoptees over many years. It is important that we all understand that this is the beginning of a legislative process, and I associate myself with much of the commentary by Members, particularly on the issue of misogyny and the fact that this was about women and their children. They were not protected because of the nature of society at that time and those who ruled it. There must be ongoing engagement with mothers and adoptees to understand what changes may be required to meet their needs. Mothers and their children suffered at the hands of a system that treated them as though they were a stain on society, when, in fact, Church and state and their treatment of women and girls and their children were and are the stain on society. It is worth remembering that many of the mothers were little more than children, and some of them were actually children. Some suffered abuse and sexual violence, and some were in the care of the state and religious institutions, though I use the term "care" loosely. Those women and girls were further abused by those who should have cared for them when they were pregnant, frightened and vulnerable. We have heard in some of the testimonies about the physical, psychological and emotional abuse and the cruel and humiliating treatment, but we need the inquiry to get a full understanding of the scale and detail of what happened. There needs to be understanding and acknowledgement, and we must do our best to meet the needs of those who suffered and whose entire lives have been shaped by what happened to them. The Committee Stage is the opportunity to get into the detail and look at what amendments may need to be made to the Bill to ensure that it meets the needs of victims and survivors. I specifically raise my concerns about the cut-off date of 2011 for posthumous payments in clause 31(5)(b). I have deep concerns about that arbitrary cut-off date for posthumous claims. It is not simply about the ability of those families to claim redress; it is very much about the acknowledgement and recognition of their loved ones who are now deceased. I appreciate that there is significant work to be done on apology and memorialisation, but the cut-off date feels particularly cruel to those whose loved ones — mothers and adopted children — have passed away. It is important that the Committee work with the Department to address that along with any other concerns that may be highlighted by the mothers and adult adoptees during the scrutiny process. I will certainly work with you to that end. We know, because they have told us, that many of the mothers and children who went through the system suffered trauma at the hands of the Church and the state. As the Government of today, we must do all that we can to make amends for that and not to add to that trauma. I hope that we can all work together with the mothers, the adult adoptees and their families to pass legislation that will go some way to making right the terrible wrongs of the past.

624 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:52 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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