Victor Boyhan Welcomes State Apology Plan, Will 'Guard His Welcome'
Victor Boyhan addressed media reports that the government is considering a state apology to victims of industrial and reformatory schools, saying he welcomes the move but will reserve full judgement until he hears the Taoiseach's formal speech and reads the apology text. He confirmed the government has agreed a package of additional supports for survivors covering health, education and housing and recalled his earlier amendments, including an enhanced medical card, were previously voted down.
Summary of remarks
Victor Boyhan said he is aware of an agreement that includes a public apology by the Taoiseach to the Dáil and additional supports for survivors of abuse in institutional schools. He said he cannot discuss final details and will wait for the Taoiseach's formal announcement.
Scope of the agreed package
The minister said the package covers areas around health, education and housing and also includes other issues which the Taoiseach will set out to the Dáil. He described the move as welcome and long overdue.
Previous parliamentary actions
Boyhan recalled that he proposed several amendments during earlier debates, including one for an enhanced medical card, which were voted down by the government and government senators. He said those prior responses were disappointing in the face of genuine asks by survivors.
Conditions and next steps
He noted the Taoiseach is still in ongoing discussions with Attorney General Rossa Fanning and that the Taoiseach will make a formal public apology. Boyhan said he will "guard his welcome" until he hears the speech and reads the text of the apology.
Acknowledgements and context
Boyhan thanked individuals involved in early work on a pathway to solutions, naming Bertie O'Hearn for his role, and acknowledged the impact of survivors who spent weeks on hunger strike outside the parliament before Christmas.
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Thank you. Leader, this morning it's been reported in the media that the government are considering issuing a state apology to be given by the Taoiseach in relation to industrial and reformatory school victims. You will recall, of course, we had much debate about this in this House. You will recall that I proposed a number of amendments and one of them was that we would have the enhanced medical card. You will also recall and fully know the response of the government and the government senators in this House and it was voted down. Well, I'm happy to know and I can't, I'm not at liberty to discuss the final detail of the agreement and the package that's been entered into and it is for the Taoiseach to announce and not for me to announce. But I am fully aware of it and I think we will need to have another opportunity to come back and revisit how we lost our way in relation to taking political leadership and championing the cause of the people that spent weeks and weeks before Christmas on hunger strike outside our parliament. But that clearly has been effective and that will be demonstrated in the public apology that the Taoiseach will issue to the Dáil. So the government have agreed this package of additional support to the survivors of abuse of institutional schools and they include areas around health, education, housing and indeed other issues again which the Taoiseach will set out to the Dáil. But I think it is important that when we are asked to champion and advocate for people that we need to seriously consider the response and the group think and the opposing and the objections of very genuine asks of these people that were not treated very well by the state was disappointing. The Taoiseach has indicated that he will give his formal response soon, he's indicated he's still in ongoing discussions with the Attorney General Rossa Fanning and so I look forward to that but I'm going to guard my welcome until I hear his actual speech and read the text of that public apology. But I think it's a welcome move and I want to thank all the people including Bertie O'Hearn, the former leader of Fianna Fáil and former Taoiseach for his role in the early stages of working through potential road, potential pathway for solutions. So I want to thank the government for at least at this late stage giving the commitment for a public apology which was long, long overdue. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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