Richard Boyd Barrett: Demand State Takeover of Bessborough

Richard Boyd Barrett addressed the Dáil to demand the government stop a private developer building on the Bessborough site and to transfer the land into public ownership. He spoke from personal experience as someone born in a mother and baby home and cited the Mother and Baby Home Commission's finding of likely burials and missing records for 19 mothers and 859 infants.

Key allegation

Richard Boyd Barrett accused the government of failing to state an intention to prevent a private, profit-driven developer from building on the Bessborough site. He said the Commission indicated there are likely burials and noted that 19 mothers and 859 infants remain missing.

Demand for public ownership

Barrett argued the government can overcome the obstacles if it chooses and must demand that the site be taken into public ownership. He framed the call as both a moral obligation and an achievable administrative decision.

Parliamentary procedure

The speech also covered recent Business Committee activity: Barrett noted two requests presented at the committee chaired by the Taoiseach, one on statements about the fiscal implications of a united Ireland and the other on statements about Bessborough. He reported that the Minister is away on government duty and those Bessborough statements cannot be made this week.

Order of business

Barrett closed by acknowledging the heavy legislative schedule ahead of recess and that, for now, the Dáil's order of business stands. The intervention links a personal testimony to a push for immediate state action on the Bessborough site.