Hunger strike by institutional survivors
Deputy Murphy seeks written commitments and senior-level engagement for industrial and reformatory school survivors on day 47 of a hunger strike. The Tánaiste and Education Minister describe meetings and mediation, stress that the matter is being handled at the highest level, and urge the survivors to protect their health by ending the strike.
The last time I raised the case of the industrial and reformatory school survivors, who are outside the Dáil on hunger strike, was three weeks ago and at that stage they had been on hunger strike for 22 days. It has now been 47 days and they are still on hunger strike. They are in very grave territory in terms of their health. Their ask is very simple: access to a full Health (Amendment) Act medical card and a full State contributory pension. I understand there was a meeting with a mediator recently but they are saying they have nothing in writing in terms of those very clear asks. I listened to the Tánaiste's response earlier. I appreciate that the Tánaiste accepts this is a very grave situation.
Comment on this
Can they get commitments in writing around some of these things? Can the Tánaiste or other senior Ministers meet with them to reassure them that their case is being dealt with seriously at the highest level, and to try to bring this to a successful end?
Comment on this
The Tánaiste responded but I am happy to respond as well.
I assure the Deputy that this is being dealt with at the highest level. I have met with Maurice Patton O'Connell, Miriam Moriarty Owens, Mary Donovan and Mary Dunlevy Greene twice now in the last number of weeks. The Taoiseach has met with them twice. A mediator met with them earlier this week. In between all of that, I have written to them a number of times and at every step of the way encouraged them to please come off their hunger strike. My first and foremost priority is their health and well-being. It is not a nice time of the year. At the same time, I appreciate what they have gone through. I have listened to many of their stories and understand the position they are in. I am asking that they would come off hunger strike. We will continue to engage with them in good faith. The work the mediator is doing now is based on engagement they had yesterday and we want to be able to come back to them as quickly as possible. However, there is an absolute desire on part of Government to try to resolve this as quickly as possible but above all that their health and well-being would be front and centre in all of this.