Catherine Corless
Galway County Council need to engage in a much more meaningful way with Catherine Corless and representatives of the Survivors of the Tuam Mother & Baby home, according to Sinn Féin Senator, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
He is also calling on all Galway TD’s to support the Sinn Féin motion being voted on this week to set up a Truth Commission in to the treatment of women and Children at Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries, and all other related institutions.
Speaking today, the Galway West – South Mayo Senator says:
‘Representatives of Survivors are very upset by the way they are being treated by Galway County Council. It appears they are being completely ignored when any decision or announcements in relation to the Tuam Mothar and Baby Home are being made.
‘Talk of a Peace Garden by the Council at this stage is wholly inappropriate given what has been brought to public attention by Catherine Corless and others, and any efforts by Galway County Council to push that at this stage are in my opinion efforts to airbrush the past and whitewash the ongoing efforts to ascertain the truth.
‘I have written to the CEO of Galway County Council asking him to meet with Catherine Corless and representatives of the survivors groups as a matter of urgency, to take their concerns on board.
‘I cannot understand either why they are blocking Catherine and others from accessing archival material that other local authorities make freely available? These are documents which would help them piece together what happened to the women and children in these institutions. They should be given access to these historic records of payments of public monies and other such documents without any further delay.
‘I would also call on all Galway TD’s to vote this week in favour of the Sinn Féin Dáil motion to set up a Truth Commission.
‘From the outset of the Commission of Investigation, it was Sinn Féin’s view that the Terms of Reference and the process were utterly inadequate. This has become increasingly clear in recent times. The exclusion of survivors that were not in the listed institutions and the behind closed doors approach, as well as the lack of access to documentation for survivors is unacceptable.
‘The Commission of Investigation Model is not fit for purpose and Sinn Féin believes that a new model is required.
‘There has been a failure to recognise that, though the experiences in Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries, Industrial Schools, and other institutions are varied and different, that these issues are intrinsically linked.
‘This was a regime, underpinned by an appalling attitude towards women, particularly unmarried women and their children, which manifested itself across the institutions of the state.
‘It is for that reason we are proposing a Truth Commission. This would draw on the best principles of International Practice, from South Africa, Chile, Australia, and Canada and apply them here.
‘This model would ensure that the voices of all survivors are heard, as too many have been excluded, and heard in a way that gives them dignity, allowing them to trust in the process.
‘We are also calling in the motion for the Government to ensure that all Mother and Baby Homes & County Home sites are subject to an injunction preventing structural changes or interference to land where excavations or investigations may be necessary.
‘This should be an absolute minimum commitment, and we hope the Dáil will support this motion, because the current Commission of Investigation is simply inadequate.”
___________________
Caithfidh Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe comhoibriú ar bhealach i bhfad níos gníomhaí le Catherine Corless agus ionadaithe ar son Marthanóirí ó Theach Máthair & Leanaí Tuaim, dar le Seanadóir Shinn Féin, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Tá sé ag iarraidh ar Theachtaí Dála na Gaillimhe ar fad tacú an tseachtain seo freisin, le rún Dála de chuid Shinn Féin, chun Coimisiún Fírinne a bhunú maidir leis an gcaoi a caitheadh le mná sna Tithe Máthreacha & Leanaí, na Níochanlanna Mhaigdiléana agus na h-institiúid ghaolmhara eile uile.
Ag labhairt do inniu, deir Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar – Maigh Eo Theas:
‘Tá ionadaithe na Marthanóirí trína chéile ar fad faoin gcaoi atá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ag caitheamh leo. Is cosúil go bhfuil droim láimhe iomlán dhá dtabhairt dóibh nuair a bhíonn aon fhógra nó cinneadh le glacadh maidir le Teach Máthair & Leanaí Thuama.
‘Tá sé mícheart amach is amach a bheith ag caint ar ‘Gháirdín Síochána’ ag an bpointe seo i bhfianaise an méid atá tugtha chun solais ag Catherine Corless agus daoine eile , agus níl sa gcaint atá ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe chun sin a bhrú chun cinn anois i mo thuairim sa ach iarracht chun cuma mhaith a chuir ar an méid a tharla agus beag is fiú a dhéanamh do na h-iarrachtaí atá ar bun go leanúnach leis an fhírinne a nochtadh.
‘Tá scríofa agam chuig Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ag iarraidh air bualadh le Catherine Corless agus ionadaithe na marthanóirí ar bhonn práinne, chun a gcuid ábhair imní a thógáil ar bord.
‘Níi thuigim ó thalamh an domhan cén fáth an bhfuil siad ag cur dris cosáin roimh Catherine agus daoine eile atá ag iarraidh rochtain a fháil ar ábhar cartlainne a bhíonn le fáil go poiblí, gan stró, ó Údaráis Áitiúla eile? Seo doiciméid a thabharfadh deis an fhírinne faoin méid a tharla do na mná agus páistí sna h-institiúid seo a oibriú amach. Ba chóir go mbeadh deis acu na taifid stairiúla seo bhaineann le h-íocaíochtaí airgid poiblí agus doiciméid eile cosúil leo, a scrúdú gan a thuilleadh moille.
‘Tá mé ag achainí chomh maith ar Theachtaí Dála na Gaillimhe ar fad chun tacú an tseachtain seo le rún Dála de chuid Shinn Féin chun Coimisiún Fírinne a bhunú.
‘Dúirt Sinn Féin ó thosaigh an Coimisiún Fiosrúcháin nárbh leor ar chor ar bith na téarmaí tagartha a bhí leagtha amach. Tá sé sin rí-shoiléir do chách anois áfach. Ní féidir glacadh leis nach dtabharfar cluas do marthanóirí nach raibh sna h-institiúid liostáilte, ná leis an cur chuig ar chúl téarmaí atá acu, chomh maith leis an bac atá ann deis a thabhairt don dream a tháinig slán ar dhoiciméid a bhaineann lena gcásanna.
‘Níl múnla an Choimisiún Fiosrúchán oiriúnach dubh, bán ná riabhach agus creideann Sinn Féin gur gá cur chuige difriúil chun teacht ar an fhírinne.
‘Níl aitheantas ar bith tugtha go bhfuil an méid a tharla do dhaoine aonair sna Tithe Máithreacha & Leanaí, na Níochanlanna Maigdiléana agus na Scoileanna Tionsclaíocha agus institiúid eile nach iad éagsúil, cé go raibh siad difriúil ar bhealaí áirithe, ach go bhfuil tá siad ar fad fite fuaite ina chéile chomh maith.
‘Ba réimeas é seo, a raibh fíor droch dhearcadh acu ar mhná, go h-áirithe iad siúd a bhí ag súil gan a bheith pósta, a bhí forleathan ar fud institiúid an Stáit thrí chéile.
‘Sin an chúis go bhfuil muid ag moladh Coimisiún Fírinne. Bheadh sé seo bunaithe ar dheá chleachtais idirnáisiúnta ón Afraic Theas, ón tSile, an Astráil agus Ceanada agus sin a chur ar bun anseo.
‘Chinnteodh an cur chuige seo go gcloisfí glórtha na marthanóirí ar fad, mar tá an chluas bhodhar tugtha do chuid mhaith acu, agus chloisfí iad ar bhealach ómósach, ag cothú a gcuid muiníne sa phróiseas.
‘Tá muid ag iarraidh sa rún chomh maith go gcinnteoidh an Rialtas go gcuirfear urghaire cúirte i bhfeidhm ar gach suíomh do na Tithe Máithreacha & Leanaí, sa gcaoi nach féidir athraithe struchtúrach a chur i bhfeidhm, ná cur isteach ar aon bhealach ar thalamh ina bhféadfadh tochailt nó imscrúdú a bheith ag teastáil air amach anseo.
‘Ba chóir go mbeifí dhá dhéanamh seo mar bhun chuspóir agus tá súil againn go dtacóidh an Dáil leis an rún seo, mar ní fiú deich dtriuf an obair atá ar bun ag an gCoimisiún Fiosrúcháin i láthair na h-uaire’.
He is also calling on all Galway TD’s to support the Sinn Féin motion being voted on this week to set up a Truth Commission in to the treatment of women and Children at Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries, and all other related institutions.
Speaking today, the Galway West – South Mayo Senator says:
‘Representatives of Survivors are very upset by the way they are being treated by Galway County Council. It appears they are being completely ignored when any decision or announcements in relation to the Tuam Mothar and Baby Home are being made.
‘Talk of a Peace Garden by the Council at this stage is wholly inappropriate given what has been brought to public attention by Catherine Corless and others, and any efforts by Galway County Council to push that at this stage are in my opinion efforts to airbrush the past and whitewash the ongoing efforts to ascertain the truth.
‘I have written to the CEO of Galway County Council asking him to meet with Catherine Corless and representatives of the survivors groups as a matter of urgency, to take their concerns on board.
‘I cannot understand either why they are blocking Catherine and others from accessing archival material that other local authorities make freely available? These are documents which would help them piece together what happened to the women and children in these institutions. They should be given access to these historic records of payments of public monies and other such documents without any further delay.
‘I would also call on all Galway TD’s to vote this week in favour of the Sinn Féin Dáil motion to set up a Truth Commission.
‘From the outset of the Commission of Investigation, it was Sinn Féin’s view that the Terms of Reference and the process were utterly inadequate. This has become increasingly clear in recent times. The exclusion of survivors that were not in the listed institutions and the behind closed doors approach, as well as the lack of access to documentation for survivors is unacceptable.
‘The Commission of Investigation Model is not fit for purpose and Sinn Féin believes that a new model is required.
‘There has been a failure to recognise that, though the experiences in Mother and Baby Homes, Magdalene Laundries, Industrial Schools, and other institutions are varied and different, that these issues are intrinsically linked.
‘This was a regime, underpinned by an appalling attitude towards women, particularly unmarried women and their children, which manifested itself across the institutions of the state.
‘It is for that reason we are proposing a Truth Commission. This would draw on the best principles of International Practice, from South Africa, Chile, Australia, and Canada and apply them here.
‘This model would ensure that the voices of all survivors are heard, as too many have been excluded, and heard in a way that gives them dignity, allowing them to trust in the process.
‘We are also calling in the motion for the Government to ensure that all Mother and Baby Homes & County Home sites are subject to an injunction preventing structural changes or interference to land where excavations or investigations may be necessary.
‘This should be an absolute minimum commitment, and we hope the Dáil will support this motion, because the current Commission of Investigation is simply inadequate.”
___________________
Caithfidh Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe comhoibriú ar bhealach i bhfad níos gníomhaí le Catherine Corless agus ionadaithe ar son Marthanóirí ó Theach Máthair & Leanaí Tuaim, dar le Seanadóir Shinn Féin, Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Tá sé ag iarraidh ar Theachtaí Dála na Gaillimhe ar fad tacú an tseachtain seo freisin, le rún Dála de chuid Shinn Féin, chun Coimisiún Fírinne a bhunú maidir leis an gcaoi a caitheadh le mná sna Tithe Máthreacha & Leanaí, na Níochanlanna Mhaigdiléana agus na h-institiúid ghaolmhara eile uile.
Ag labhairt do inniu, deir Seanadóir Ghaillimh Thiar – Maigh Eo Theas:
‘Tá ionadaithe na Marthanóirí trína chéile ar fad faoin gcaoi atá Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ag caitheamh leo. Is cosúil go bhfuil droim láimhe iomlán dhá dtabhairt dóibh nuair a bhíonn aon fhógra nó cinneadh le glacadh maidir le Teach Máthair & Leanaí Thuama.
‘Tá sé mícheart amach is amach a bheith ag caint ar ‘Gháirdín Síochána’ ag an bpointe seo i bhfianaise an méid atá tugtha chun solais ag Catherine Corless agus daoine eile , agus níl sa gcaint atá ag Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe chun sin a bhrú chun cinn anois i mo thuairim sa ach iarracht chun cuma mhaith a chuir ar an méid a tharla agus beag is fiú a dhéanamh do na h-iarrachtaí atá ar bun go leanúnach leis an fhírinne a nochtadh.
‘Tá scríofa agam chuig Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe ag iarraidh air bualadh le Catherine Corless agus ionadaithe na marthanóirí ar bhonn práinne, chun a gcuid ábhair imní a thógáil ar bord.
‘Níi thuigim ó thalamh an domhan cén fáth an bhfuil siad ag cur dris cosáin roimh Catherine agus daoine eile atá ag iarraidh rochtain a fháil ar ábhar cartlainne a bhíonn le fáil go poiblí, gan stró, ó Údaráis Áitiúla eile? Seo doiciméid a thabharfadh deis an fhírinne faoin méid a tharla do na mná agus páistí sna h-institiúid seo a oibriú amach. Ba chóir go mbeadh deis acu na taifid stairiúla seo bhaineann le h-íocaíochtaí airgid poiblí agus doiciméid eile cosúil leo, a scrúdú gan a thuilleadh moille.
‘Tá mé ag achainí chomh maith ar Theachtaí Dála na Gaillimhe ar fad chun tacú an tseachtain seo le rún Dála de chuid Shinn Féin chun Coimisiún Fírinne a bhunú.
‘Dúirt Sinn Féin ó thosaigh an Coimisiún Fiosrúcháin nárbh leor ar chor ar bith na téarmaí tagartha a bhí leagtha amach. Tá sé sin rí-shoiléir do chách anois áfach. Ní féidir glacadh leis nach dtabharfar cluas do marthanóirí nach raibh sna h-institiúid liostáilte, ná leis an cur chuig ar chúl téarmaí atá acu, chomh maith leis an bac atá ann deis a thabhairt don dream a tháinig slán ar dhoiciméid a bhaineann lena gcásanna.
‘Níl múnla an Choimisiún Fiosrúchán oiriúnach dubh, bán ná riabhach agus creideann Sinn Féin gur gá cur chuige difriúil chun teacht ar an fhírinne.
‘Níl aitheantas ar bith tugtha go bhfuil an méid a tharla do dhaoine aonair sna Tithe Máithreacha & Leanaí, na Níochanlanna Maigdiléana agus na Scoileanna Tionsclaíocha agus institiúid eile nach iad éagsúil, cé go raibh siad difriúil ar bhealaí áirithe, ach go bhfuil tá siad ar fad fite fuaite ina chéile chomh maith.
‘Ba réimeas é seo, a raibh fíor droch dhearcadh acu ar mhná, go h-áirithe iad siúd a bhí ag súil gan a bheith pósta, a bhí forleathan ar fud institiúid an Stáit thrí chéile.
‘Sin an chúis go bhfuil muid ag moladh Coimisiún Fírinne. Bheadh sé seo bunaithe ar dheá chleachtais idirnáisiúnta ón Afraic Theas, ón tSile, an Astráil agus Ceanada agus sin a chur ar bun anseo.
‘Chinnteodh an cur chuige seo go gcloisfí glórtha na marthanóirí ar fad, mar tá an chluas bhodhar tugtha do chuid mhaith acu, agus chloisfí iad ar bhealach ómósach, ag cothú a gcuid muiníne sa phróiseas.
‘Tá muid ag iarraidh sa rún chomh maith go gcinnteoidh an Rialtas go gcuirfear urghaire cúirte i bhfeidhm ar gach suíomh do na Tithe Máithreacha & Leanaí, sa gcaoi nach féidir athraithe struchtúrach a chur i bhfeidhm, ná cur isteach ar aon bhealach ar thalamh ina bhféadfadh tochailt nó imscrúdú a bheith ag teastáil air amach anseo.
‘Ba chóir go mbeifí dhá dhéanamh seo mar bhun chuspóir agus tá súil againn go dtacóidh an Dáil leis an rún seo, mar ní fiú deich dtriuf an obair atá ar bun ag an gCoimisiún Fiosrúcháin i láthair na h-uaire’.
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