This contribution was originally published in the Irish Independent on October 16th 2025.

It’s encouraging to see Siobhán McSweeney lend her support to Philomena’s Law, which would help protect survivors of Ireland’s mother-and-baby homes living in the UK from losing means-tested benefits if they accept compensation from the Irish State’s scheme.

It also however highlights how we continue to treat survivors of this dark chapter in Irish history here at home. In 2020 the Dáil, including Heather Humphreys TD, then minister for social welfare, voted in favour of a bill that resulted in sealing the records of the commission of investigation for 30 years.

That decision effectively also sealed the fate of thousands of women, many now in their sixties, seventies and eighties, from ever accessing the full record of their own story in their lifetime. It remains an absolutely shameful piece of legislation.

Protecting women should not be a slogan for an election campaign but be backed up by action and transparency.