Paul Graham, a survivor of the Bethany Home, has challenged the Government to explain why it has refused to pay redress to the home's former residents. The wrongs of Ireland's mother and baby homes are accepted by all in this House. Many of those who survived horrific treatment during their younger years are now elderly and in ill health. Sadly, in the case of the Bethany Home, they are increasingly few in number. In 2016, the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes stated in its second interim report: "Logically, children who were resident in the named Mother and Baby Homes and all County Homes should be eligible [for the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme]". Another Bethany Home survivor, Derek Leinster, has described the Government's refusal to extend redress to the survivors until the commission concludes its final report as a "delay and deny until they die" policy.

The Deputy's time is up.

It is difficult to disagree with him. Understandably, the exclusion of Protestant-run homes-----

Please adhere to the time, Deputy.

-----from redress has left the survivors of the Bethany Home and the Westbank Home with a sectarian aftertaste. The blame for this lies squarely at the Government's door.

Does the Deputy have a question?

Will the Taoiseach provide Paul Graham with the explanation he needs?

I thank Deputy Brady for raising this important matter, which I know is of concern to many people. No legislation on it is promised. However, we will have to assess the findings of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes when it produces its report. That will not be until the first quarter of next year. We will take the matter from there.