Lowry votes against government on Mother and Baby Home Redress Bill

Deputy Michael Lowry voted against the Government on Wednesday night on the contentious Mother and Baby Redress Bill.

The debate in the Dáil saw several angry exchanges, largely due to objections that children who were resident in institutions for a period from birth to six months will not be included in the Redress Scheme.

It is estimated that as many as 24,000 individuals fall into this category.

Ultimately, despite many impassioned statements from numerous speakers, the Bill passed through the Dáil, with 73 members voting in favour, while 62 voted against.

The Bill will now go before the Seanad for further debate.

Deputy Lowry says that he has met with many of those in Tipperary who are impacted by the decision not to include those who spent less than six months in institutions in the Redress Scheme.

He says he feels strongly that this decision to exclude so many from the Scheme is unfair and inequitable.

‘I could not justify the Government’s rationale on this matter’ he said, ‘I felt morally obliged to vote against it’.