I can assure the Deputy that I am acutely conscious of the enormous trauma felt by survivors of abuse, as is the Government. While nothing that we do now can ever undo the hurt which has been caused, the Government is committed to recognising that hurt and providing appropriate supports to survivors.
As the Deputy will be aware, in May 1999 the then-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern delivered, in behalf of the State and its citizens, an apology to the victims of childhood abuse. While this was prompted by the appalling revelations of abuse and mistreatment in industrial schools, reformatories and other institutions, the apology was to all such victims, no matter the context. With regard to the apology referred to by the Deputy, I understand that a date for this will be scheduled shortly.
Since that time, there has been a comprehensive response by the State to this issue, including implementation a range of initiatives such as the establishment of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (CICA) and the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme.
In relation to children placed in homes and institutions in Northern Ireland, I would note that the Historical Institutional Abuse Redress Board was established to provide redress to those who were abused as children in relevant institutions.
