The Government is set to introduce legislation to protect privately-held records pertaining to Ireland’s institutional past. This move comes in response to calls from survivors, former residents, and advocates who want to ensure records related to their identity and the systems that impacted their lives are preserved.
The proposed legislation aims to safeguard records from Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, industrial schools, orphanages, and adoption agencies, among others. Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman stresses the urgency of this legislation and plans to introduce it as amendments to the Maternity Protection Bill.
The legislation will require private holders of relevant records to preserve them in the public interest, making it an offense to destroy or falsify records. This effort aligns with the establishment of a central repository at the former Magdalene Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.
Advocacy groups like Justice for Magdalene’s Research and the Adoption Rights Alliance have welcomed the news, highlighting the importance of supporting this overdue legislation.