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It has been a long and difficult fortnight.
But I wanted to say something about why this matters.
The Mother and Baby homes Commission report is going to come out- sooner or later- and we are going to suffer grief.
We couldn’t not. It will be a catalog of horrors.
But I wanted to say something about why this matters.
The Mother and Baby homes Commission report is going to come out- sooner or later- and we are going to suffer grief.
We couldn’t not. It will be a catalog of horrors.
And without facing these horrors full on- without incorporating them into Ireland’s story of itself it tells its children and the world- our society will not be right.
We will have too much of a gap between the brittle shell of the official national story and the dark truth
We will have too much of a gap between the brittle shell of the official national story and the dark truth
The McAleese report was an effort to suppress, reject, minimise and silence the voices of women who were abused, and exploited for profit as unpaid forced labour, to the benefit of state and church in Magdalen Laundries.
It did Ireland harm, not service.
It did Ireland harm, not service.
I do not think this coming report will try to do that.
But its reception will determine how the Irish people come to terms with what is set out there.
It’s clear now that the Dept in charge of addressing this job isn’t ready for this gargantuan social task.
But its reception will determine how the Irish people come to terms with what is set out there.
It’s clear now that the Dept in charge of addressing this job isn’t ready for this gargantuan social task.
Now, here’s what I think- the Cabinet is not filled with people trying to cover things up.
It is too long ago. There’s nothing in it for any of them.
But their officials, representing various institutional interests, are starting to quail at the creating wave they see coming.
It is too long ago. There’s nothing in it for any of them.
But their officials, representing various institutional interests, are starting to quail at the creating wave they see coming.
That, and not the wrongness on the GDPR, is the real meaning of this report.
Approaching Halloween Departments are sending every boogieman they can think of to scarify a Cabinet which now sees more political downside to ongoing secrecy than benefit. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mother-and-baby-homes-report-will-increase-calls-for-state-redress-cabinet-told-1.4394644?mode=amp
Approaching Halloween Departments are sending every boogieman they can think of to scarify a Cabinet which now sees more political downside to ongoing secrecy than benefit. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mother-and-baby-homes-report-will-increase-calls-for-state-redress-cabinet-told-1.4394644?mode=amp
Walls which have held back the truth will come down once the individual’s right to information about themselves is both acknowledged and given real form.
Faced with that, the canard of this all being about privacy is being replaced by the truth that has always been there.
Cash.
Faced with that, the canard of this all being about privacy is being replaced by the truth that has always been there.
Cash.
Consider that assertion brought to cabinet.
Once the report is published, we will likely have to apologise and pay compensation, so terrible was the abuse we trapped people in, and the ongoing consequences for their lives.
Once the report is published, we will likely have to apologise and pay compensation, so terrible was the abuse we trapped people in, and the ongoing consequences for their lives.
