Bacik urges Government to withdraw delaying amendment on survivors’ redress Bill

Bacik urges Government to withdraw delaying amendment on survivors' redress Bill - The Labour Party

Labour Leader Ivana Bacik TD has called on the Government to withdraw its delaying amendment to Labour’s Civil Liability (Child Sexual Abuse Proceedings Against Unincorporated Bodies of Persons) Bill 2025, ahead of a vote on the legislation tomorrow night.

In the Dáil today, Deputy Bacik urged the Government to allow the legislation to proceed without further delay and called on Government TDs to vote with their conscience.

Deputy Bacik said,

“Labour’s Bill would remove the legal loophole that allows certain religious orders to shield their assets from survivors of historical child sexual abuse who are owed redress. Tomorrow, every TD will have to make a choice. Should survivors see action now, or should their decades-long wait continue? I have forced this Bill to a vote because the public deserves to know where their TDs stand.

“The Minister for Justice has said he will need another six months to consider the legislation but the Government has already had this bill for almost two years. Indeed, it was referred to the Attorney General in 2024. It is hard to understand the basis for further delays, particularly given the subject matter: justice for survivors of sexual abuse in childhood. Surely, the work the Government claims remains to be done can continue while this legislation progresses through the Oireachtas. There is no justification, technical or moral, for making survivors wait again. This legislation is about ensuring religious orders can no longer rely on legal technicalities to avoid accountability where the courts determine liability exists. It will not cost the Exchequer a cent.

“Over decades, courageous survivors have exposed some of the darkest crimes committed in institutions run by religious orders. Many have spent years seeking accountability only to encounter legal obstacles that protect culpable institutions, rather than the victims whose abuse they enabled.

“Fast action matters. Survivors are getting older and carrying deep trauma. Some have already passed away before they ever saw justice. In the Dáil today, I asked Minister Chambers would the Government withdraw their delaying amendment. Now that he has refused, I am appealing to Government TDs to vote with their conscience tomorrow, and to vote down this insulting amendment.”