Monday October 19 2009
THE Government last night announced the establishment of a “memorial committee” to oversee the creation of a memorial to victims of child abuse and consider arrangements for a national day of remembrance.
A budget of €500,000 is being set aside for the memorial, which will have the 1999 apology from former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern inscribed on it.
The new committee, which will meet with survivor groups in relation to the location and nature of the memorial, will be chaired by former chairman of the Office of Public Works (OPW) Sean Benton.
He will be assisted by Bernadette Fahy and Paddy Doyle, who are representing survivors of abuse.
The other members of the committee are: Sean O Laoire of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland; Monica Corcoran of the Arts Council; and Billy Houlihan, formerly Cork county architect.
Last night, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said the committee will also consider arrangements for a national day of remembrance and solidarity.
“The memorial will be a permanent reminder of a dark period in Irish life when we collectively failed the most vulnerable members of society,” he said.
Previously, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said the idea of a national day of atonement should be examined, with the possibility of holding it on June 21 — the longest day of the year.
Reflect
Green Party deputy leader Mary White has been campaigning for a national day of remembrance since the publication of the Ryan report into child abuse in religious institutions, claiming it would provide people with an opportunity to reflect on what had happened.
“Finding a way to bring closure to this sorry episode in our history must be above politics,” she said.
One positive step the Government could take to help those who were so betrayed would be to declare a day of remembrance for all victims of abuse, Ms White added.
– ine Kerr Political Correspondent
Irish Independent
