From 21 September to 10 November 2025, Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Maurice Patton O'Connell and Miriam Moriarty Owens were forced to go on hunger strike outside this building for 51 days and nights in an attempt for justice. They slept on the streets outside this House in appalling conditions and weather. Their meagre possessions were stolen in what is supposed to be safe Dublin. They did it to represent other survivors. I had the privilege of supporting them by raising their case in this House at the beginning of last November. During my contribution, I pleaded with the Taoiseach to go out, meet the hunger strikers and agree to their reasonable demands. The survivors have been deeply traumatised by the institutional abuse they suffered, and they were retraumatised by the Government's lack of engagement and response. They then faced psychological and health issues following their hunger strike. Their courage, strength and sacrifice in undertaking a hunger strike was not for themselves alone but for all survivors. They undertook the process not just for them but for the 4,000 survivors of residential institutional abuse. Their demands were simple. A State-contributory pension to acknowledge the years of unpaid labour carried out in institutions where children were forced to work without remuneration, education or protection and a Health (Amendment) Act card to help address the lifelong consequences of the abuse they suffered in these industrial and reformatory schools. While the Taoiseach's apology is very welcome, survivors have experienced decades of lip service. Successive Governments have recognised the wrongs, while failing to implement comprehensive survivor-centred solutions. Trust in government and the powers that be have been eroded by decades of inaction. Only decisive action can now change this. The Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 was introduced by this Government. The Act is a half measure that ignores the needs of survivors. Sinn Féin brought forward amendments which sought to make the legislation equal for all survivors but they were struck down by the Government. Our amendments included a universal health card, a contributory State pension, educational bursaries, financial contributions from religious orders and equal access to all supports under the Act, regardless of whether survivors had received an award of settlement. That is the very least survivors should expect. Significant concerns remain that the legislation is incomplete and does not fully address the lived realities of survivors of institutional abuse. The State continues to shield religious orders from their financial responsibility. It is unacceptable that the State alone should foot the bill for crimes committed by both church and State. Justice delayed has already been justice denied. For survivors of institutional abuse, immediate and decisive action must follow tonight's apology in order to make it valid.

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