At the outset, I thank the Minister and Government for facilitating these statements today. They are absolutely necessary. As we all know, Bessborough represents a very long dark chapter in our past. It extended from 1922 to 1998. It was a very recent chapter. It is not that long ago since Bessborough closed its doors. Some of the history of what went on in Bessborough is known and some is unknown but certainly there were horrors in relation to it. Some of that is documented but much of it is not. As we have outlined here today, 9,768 women and girls went through Bessborough, and 8,938 children also experienced it. That is over 18,000 human beings, as Deputy Gould referred to earlier. A total of 923 children died in Bessborough. We know that only a very tiny number of those are accounted for. These facts are stark and very significant. I acknowledge that the commission of investigation undertook work on the Bessborough site. It also concluded that it is likely there are further burial sites relating to Bessborough. The fact that the commission said it has found no evidence as to where these may be located should not in any way be used as a reason to suggest the Bessborough site can be developed. We absolutely need to err on the side of caution on this. The 923 figure is stark in terms of our past as a country. With regard to the role of Cork City Council, a unanimous motion, as I understand it, has been passed regarding the compulsory purchase order, CPO, of the site. I do not understand how the council has not been more proactive over the years on the site. As someone who served on the council for many years I know that councillors have a lot of powers in the development plan over the zoning of land and designating and categorising of land. I genuinely do not understand how the Bessborough site was not protected in various city development plans over the years. That was a mistake and that was unfortunate but that is where we are now. As we know, there is planning permission in place. As housing spokesperson for my party, I speak week in and week out on the need for housing supply and on the housing crisis, and how that is impacting on our citizens in an acute way. We need housing but there are limits and exceptions to that. This situation is an exception to that. I have no difficulty in saying, as a housing spokesperson, that this site should not be developed. I may come in for some criticism on this given my role but I absolutely stand over it. There are exceptions to everything and this is one of them given the very dark past that occurred in Bessborough. I ask that the Government does everything to find a different way forward here. It is possible to find an alternative way forward. As public representatives, we all know the reality when there is a planning permission and it is appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála. If that is allowed to follow through on its course, there will be a decision. There is a window there for the Government to consider what it can do on this. I acknowledge that the options are limited but there is scope to examine this. I thank the Minister for being here and for listening to us today. Family members of survivors and survivors are with us here today in the Public Gallery. I acknowledge them making the journey from Cork to listen to the debate, which is so important. It is a large site. As a Deputy said earlier, it should be a site of conscience. It should be a site that is protected and preserved in respect of those who experienced Bessborough and in respect of their family members. We have a duty as public representatives to work together and collectively to try to find a way forward here that meets those needs better. I ask that the Government does this. We need to err on the side of caution and that is what I ask to happen.

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