Homes inquiry must include all institutions

Given that the Government has committed to consulting a wide range of opinion regarding the scope of the Commission of Investigation into mother-and-baby homes, I would like to issue a plea that the foremost issue to be decided should be which institutions are included.

It seems very clear that the only acceptable answer is all institutions must be included. The Schedule of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 excluded many homes. This must be the occasion when this huge injustice is rectified.

Mr Flanagan is on record as stating “that if people were transferred from mother-and-baby homes to Magdalene Laundries that should also be examined”. This worthy intention must extend to all other institutions. It is well recorded that babies were transferred from the Bethany home to the Mayil and Westbank institutions in Greystones, Co Wicklow.