After historic state apology, Martin must find a way to make amends

There are an estimated 130,000 living survivors of mother and baby homes and county homes. The government feels that while the compensation bill will be substantial, it has to be paid

Taoiseach Micheál Martin delivered a televised apology to the survivors of mother and baby homes last week Pic: Getty

Micheál Martin was one of the first people in the country to have read the 2,865-page report of the Mother and Baby Home Commission in full.

The Taoiseach had started working through it shortly after it was finally delivered to the government on October 30 last year. By December, he felt briefed enough to call a meeting with Roderic O’Gorman, the Green Party TD and Minister for Children, to discuss the launch of the report ...