Danny Healy-Rae: Condemns plan to lock records for 30 years
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae spoke in the Dáil on 24 Feb 2021, supporting a Social Democrats motion and condemning government moves to seal records for 30 years. He accused the government and the minister of dishonesty, urged an extension for the Commission, and said affected people are entitled to know their origins.
Motion and support
He thanked the Social Democrats for bringing the motion and said he would support it, framing the debate as a defence of people seeking information about their identities.
Allegation of secrecy over records
He accused the government of attempting to "lock away the records for 30 years", asking "What are they trying to hide?" and saying that keeping files closed would deny revelations and truth to those affected.
Calls for extension of the Commission's time
He noted the time for the Commission had been extended "four or five times before" and questioned why the minister would not extend it again now, arguing that an extension could bring forward further disclosures.
Human impact and entitlement to identity
He said people who suffered deserve to know "who they are, where they came from, who their mothers were, who their grandmothers were," describing the issue as a human matter and condemning what he called unfair and dishonest treatment by the government. He also said he had texted the minister to press for details to be released.
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Coherleach, I'm glad to get the opportunity to talk on this very important matter and I want to thank the Social Democrats for bringing this motion before us and I will be supported of course. People right around the country are outraged with the government and what they're doing to these people and what they have tried to do over the last number of months. First of all, he tried to lock away the records for 30 years. What are they trying to hide? Why are they regarding these poor people that have gone through hell and earth as it is, seeing that they came this far and more of them didn't survive at all? Why are they doing this to these group of people? And they are being dishonest with them, saying that they're not opposing the motion but they're still not going to extend the time. And the time was extended four or five times before for the Commission, so why can't he do it once again when we're maybe getting close to getting revelations and to getting the truth? But he don't want the truth to come out. Why are he regarding these people? These people are entitled to know who they are, where they came from, who their mothers were, who their grandmothers were, like we all do. It's natural to know who we are and who came before us. And you're being very unfair in this and the government once again is showing that they're being dishonest to the people. And like I said, there's people that are not involved at all but they're outraged with what you're doing. And it's very, very unfair and I'm calling him now, texting him the time and to let these people know the details that they want to know. And they're surely entitled to that. It's a human issue, it's a human matter and treat him fairly, ministers, and don't be trying to regard him because that's what he's done with the last number of moves. We thought he had here in sight with the motion about locking away the files for 30 years. Thank you Deputy, your time's up. Thank you.
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