Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has said that the comments from Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Roderic O’Gorman that there was broad consensus in the Dáil on the sealing of the Mother and Baby Homes records was “far from reality”, saying that, barring the usual couple of Independents who back the Government at every turn, Sinn Féin and the other parties voted against his attempts to deny the truth to survivors and their families.

Teachta Crowe said:

“Sinn Féin did not support the Government’s Bill to seal the records of the Mother and Baby Homes. For the Minister to say that there was a broad consensus in the Dáil last night is an attempt to paint us all with the one brush when there was nearly 70 votes against his rotten legislation last night.

“Government TDs, the Minister included, are falling over themselves this morning to spin and spoof that this is about protecting victims and survivors when it couldn’t be further from reality. They pushed forward to rush through the Mother and Baby Homes Bill and it is nothing short of disgraceful.

“Sinn Féin appealed to the Minister to ensure that survivors’ voices were at the centre of his approach. I believe he failed to listen to their objections in a respectful and compassionate way. Minister O’Gorman also refused any attempts by the opposition to amend or reform this cruel and unjust legislation.

“I have no doubt survivors and those who are seeking their records will remember this betrayal long after this government.

“I fear like many others that this is another indication of the usual weak and useless approach of the Green Party in Government. Once again playing the mud guard to the larger parties and not standing up for what is right and just.”