Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns has said she is giving a cautious welcome to Micheál Martin’s request that Cork City Council engage with landowners at Bessborough.
“On two occasions in the Dáil this week, I urged the Taoiseach to intervene and ensure that apartments were not built on a potential mass grave of infants at Bessborough.
“It was not clear that he was going to act, but I welcome his statement today that he has asked Cork City Council to engage with landowers at Bessborough with a view to exploring all options for the site. This is an important first step, but it must not be the only one.
“I also want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of campaigners on this issue, who fought tirelessly to protect this site and never should have had to.”
“Councillors on Cork City Council have voted, on two separate occasions, to buy the land at Bessborough. The most recent vote was Monday. However, they have been told they do not have the money the purchase it.
“The Taoiseach has now said “we need to do the right thing” when it comes to Bessborough. The right thing would be turning the grounds into a site of conscience.
“However, Cork City Council will need to be provided with money from central government if it is going to do that. I hope that the Taoiseach will confirm at an early stage that this money will be provided.
“There are other things the Taoiseach could do too. He could unseal all records about burials from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission and request that the Attorney General order an inquest into the deaths of the hundreds of women and children who died there.”
“These women and children were failed by the State in life. We must not fail them in death.”