If State apologies mean anything, and if this government really wants to protect survivors of Bessborough from further trauma, then they must act
The Taoiseach should stop making excuses about the government’s inability to stop a development at Bessborough and start taking action, according to Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns.
Deputy Cairns said:
“In the Dáil today, I raised this issue with the Taoiseach and he essentially said the government was neither willing nor able to stop the construction of apartments at Bessborough.
“The Taoiseach appears to be looking for any excuse to avoid taking action when the solution to this appalling issue is obvious – provide money to Cork City Council to allow it to purchase the land at Bessborough.
“Yesterday marked the second occasion where Cork City Council have voted unanimously to purchase the land at Bessborough. Officials have told them they are unable to because they don’t have the money.
“The Government must now provide the money to allow them to get on with what they should have done long ago – buy this land and turn it into a site of conscience.
“This is what the Taoiseach himself has said he believes should have happened. That is what he told me in the Dáil two weeks ago.
“It is now time for him to put his money where his mouth is. We cannot allow a development, on the site of a potential mass grave of hundreds of infants, to go ahead. It would be abhorrent and unforgivable.
“There have now been four State apologies to children who were sent to, or grew up in, institutions like reformatory schools and mother and baby homes. If this development goes ahead, there will have to be another one in the future.
“If State apologies mean anything, and if this government really wants to protect survivors of Bessborough from further trauma, then they must act.
“Provide the funding to Cork City Council to allow them to right this terrible wrong and buy the Bessborough site.”