Other Deputies have already raised the case of the elderly, vulnerable people on hunger strike.

I think they have been 22 days on hunger strike outside Leinster House. They are survivors of industrial and reformatory schools who are putting their health on the line to try to access justice for themselves and their fellow survivors. They were failed once by the State when they were committed to these heinous institutions and they are being failed again now. Their ask is very simple and very modest, to access a full Health (Amendment) Act, HAA, medical card and a full State contributory pension, based on what has been awarded to survivors of similar institutions but which these survivors have been excluded from. It is not enough that the State acknowledges it has failed survivors historically. If it excludes survivors from redress for these past wrongdoings, it is showing it has not learned lessons. It is obviously getting to a very grave situation when we are at 22 days for elderly people. I am asking if there can be an intervention here.

I met the group last Friday week. I asked them in to Government Buildings and we met in the Taoiseach's offices and had a lengthy discussion. Deputy Murphy knows the history. I established the inquiry into the industrial schools. That was followed by a comprehensive redress scheme and other measures that were taken. We are willing to engage and I have asked my officials to look at all the various requests from the group, but there are repercussions elsewhere and it is not as simple or straightforward as has been presented. We are willing to engage and quite a list of issues was discussed. I have asked my officials to look at those issues and I am also meeting the Minister for education, whose officials have offered to meet the group on her behalf. I would like this resolved but there has to be a bit of flexibility so we can get into a process. I would like them to come off the hunger strike because it can be damaging health-wise. I would like them to come off it in good faith that we would engage on issues and try to improve what is there already.