All Photos: Arthur Kinahan
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26 Nov 2025
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26 Nov 2025
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Michael Shine
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Deputy Nash continued: "This campaign has been ongoing for three decades. We need the exercise announced today to lead to a formal, statutory process that is victim-centred, that can command the support, trust and confidence of the victims and survivors and that will ultimately see institutions held to account.
"I want to give credit to the Minister Health for her commitment to this important matter since she took office, and for her engagement with me and all local Oireachtas members, and the Dignity4Patients group and its membership.
"The very first contribution I made in the Dáil chamber when I was first elected in 2011 focused on the actions of Michael Shine and the need for support for Dignity4Patients to allow them to do their important advocacy work for victims and survivors.
"This has been a long journey that at times has felt endless and where hope was in short supply. Today, we are all hopeful and optimistic that this significant new chapter will lead to a positive outcome and the design of a process that we can all support."
Louth Fianna Fáil TD, Erin McGreehan, said that the decision represents an important development for those who have been seeking clarity and accountability for many years. Deputy McGreehan said that, "this announcement provides a much needed step forward for survivors. It opens the door to establishing the full truth of what happened and why it was allowed to continue for so long.”
Deputy Butterly continued: "The timebound nature of this scoping exercise is a welcome announcement as it will ensure that action is taken to move forward on the issue, and victims’ voices are prioritised in its procedure.
"Victims deserve the right to move forward, and I eagerly await the recommendations that come as a result of this exercise. I will continue to raise this issue in the future, as I believe it is imperative that the State protects victims of abuse and listens to their stories.”
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