Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In the last twenty years apologies have been issued in the Dáil, by the Taoiseach on behalf of the State.

In May 1999, the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D., made an unreserved apology on behalf of the Irish state to the victims of child abuse who had spent their childhoods in residential institutions run by 18 religious congregations.

In his apology, Mr Ahern noted that abuse had ruined their childhoods and was since, an ever present part of their adults lives reminding them of a time when they were helpless.

Mr Ahern also announced the establishment of a Commission of Enquiry into Childhood Abuse with the primary focus of providing victims with an opportunity to tell their stories of the abuse they suffered. The Commission was tasked with establishing a complete picture of the causes and extent of physical and sexual abuse of children.

He also announced that a redress board would be established that would compensate former residents for any abuse they suffered.

In June 2009, on foot of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, known as the Ryan Report, the then Taoiseach, Brian Cowen T.D., made a further apology to the victims of childhood abuse, having accepted the conclusions of the Commission’s work.

In February 2013, the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, T.D., issued an apology on behalf of the Irish Government in Dáil Éireann to women who were resident in Magdalen Laundries for hurt done to them and any stigma and trauma experienced by reason of their residence in those institutions.

The Government has honoured its commitments to the Magdalen women through the establishment of the Magdalen Ex-Gratia Scheme, as recommended by Mr Justice John Quirke, and by ensuring that the recommendations of the Ombudsman’s report of November 2017 on the operation of this Scheme are fully implemented.

On 22 October 2019 the then Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar T.D., issued an apology in the Dáil on behalf of the State to the women and their loved ones affected by issues relating to the Cervical Check Screening Programme. While screening will not prevent all cases of cervical cancer, the failures experienced by the women concerned were acknowledged.

The apology came on foot of Dr Gabriel Scally’s Scoping Inquiry into Cervical Check.

Since then, the Government has been committed to learning lessons and positive progress has been made in this regard. All 170 actions in the Implementation Plan arising from the Scoping Inquiry are now completed.

This work included developing an updated reporting structure for the National Screening Services within the HSE.

Efforts arising from Dr Scally’s Inquiry have enabled improved governance, strengthened reporting lines, and most importantly helped to create a more patient-centred environment within the Cervical Check Programme. In his final progress report published in November, 2022, Dr Scally acknowledges the progress achieved.

The Government is acutely aware that the issues in CervicalCheck in 2018 led to a loss of trust in our screening services, but we are working to rebuild trust by working with patients and advocates to improve and develop services across all screening programmes, including Cervical Check.

In addition, in June 2018, on the 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, Taoiseach Varadkar. moved an historic all-party motion in the Dail.

As part of this, a sincere apology was offered to those individuals affected by the criminalisation of homosexual acts in Ireland and the hurt and the harm caused by this legislation was acknowledged.

The Government continues to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland and to advance rights for those most at risk of being marginalised, including through a review of the functioning and effectiveness of the Equality Acts currently under way.

On 13 January 2022, the then Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, T.D., issued a formal apology for the hurt experienced by many former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and County Homes. He apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a Mother and Baby Home or a County Home and for the shame and stigma which they were subjected to.

As part of that apology it was acknowledged that the State had failed in its duty of care to the mothers and children who spent time in these institutions.

Since January 2021, work has been advanced by Minister O’Gorman on restorative action for survivors and former residents of these institutions through the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and County Home Institutions, which commits to 22 Actions.

On 24^th April 2024 I apologised on behalf of the State to the families of the victims who died in the Dublin Stardust nightclub fire tragedy in 1981. After a more than 40 year campaign for justice, an inquest found that the 48 victims had been unlawfully killed. In my apology, I acknowledged that every victim of the Stardust tragedy was innocent and that they were unlawfully killed in the tragedy.