Commission of Investigation into the Tuam Mother and Baby Home

15 March 2017

I spoke in the Seanad about the Tuam Mother and Baby Home in the context of Ireland's appalling history of institutional violence and the culture of denial. I called for the long-overdue separation of church and state in our country.

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Seanad amendment opens up long-overdue pathway to open adoption in Ireland

23 June 2017

Many countries across the world have long seen open or semi-open adoption as an important option within any modern adoption system. However, Ireland has, to date, only ever allowed for closed adoption in which there are no formal or recognised ongoing connections between a new adoptive family, a birth parent and a child who is adopted.
Barnardos, the Care Leavers Network and many other advocacy groups and experts have long called for change in this area and it seems now that change may finally become possible.

Cross-Party Oireachtas Member demand increased transparency from Facebook

13 April 2018

A Cross-party group of Senators and TDs wrote to Facebook Ireland to request that the social media platform roll-out their new transparency features in Ireland in advance of the referendum on the 8th amendment on May 25th.

Welcoming Women from Direct Provision Centres into Leinster House

18 May 2018

I was recently very pleased to welcome a group of women from the Mosney direct provision centre to Leinster House. The women had completed a communications skills development course and I had the pleasure of presenting them with their completion certificates.