Institutional Burials Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages
Dail Éireann — 2022-06-15
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Seán Canney (IND), Galway East

I thank the Minister for taking on board the amendment that Deputy Tóibín and I tabled. The only issue I have is that some people who are first cousins of the babies are trying to trace their relations. They have been on a journey for a long time. Their concern is that if they want to give their DNA, if there are improvements in forensic science in a number of years to such an extent that identification could be possible, we should not exclude anybody who may have a desire to find out whether their cousin is buried here. There is no other living relation for this person. While the inclusion of a grandniece or grandnephew is welcomed, it does not sort out a case where the only living relative is a first cousin, who might have been on a journey for 20 years to find his or her cousin. I ask the Minister to consider it on the basis that if a cousin wants to voluntarily give a DNA sample, it should be accepted. Even if the chances are very slight, the particular person I am speaking with would love the opportunity. Even a 12.5% opportunity is better than no opportunity to find his cousin. The Minister might consider that. I appreciate what the Minister has done in tabling this amendment, but if he could take that extra step, it would be good to be inclusive rather than exclusive.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-06-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:34+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-06-15