Daughter of Philomena Lee Urges Gov’t to Expand Scheme
Daughter of Philomena Lee urges government to Extend Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme
Table of Contents
- Daughter of Philomena Lee urges government to Extend Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme
- Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme: Q&A on Proposed Changes and Support
Published: 2025-03-15
Advocating for Survivors of Mother and Baby homes
The daughter of Philomena Lee, a survivor of a Mother and Baby Home, is advocating for a broader scope in the Mother-and-Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.She argues that the current limitations, based on the duration of stay in these institutions, are ”fully unjust.”
Jane libberton’s plea follows the introduction of ‘Philomena’s Law‘ in the UK parliament by the British Labor Party. This law aims to assist Irish Mother and Baby Home survivors residing in the UK to access compensation.
Philomena Lee’s personal story, marked by a 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son Anthony, gained international attention through the 2013 film, ‘Philomena’.
Calls for Scheme Re-evaluation
Ms. Libberton is urging the Irish Government to re-evaluate the existing scheme, highlighting its numerous exclusions. She stated, “to look at the scheme again” as it includes “a lot of exclusions”.
During an interview on RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin,she emphasized the scale of the issue: “there are 24,000 survivors who cannot apply,” and noted that “around only a tenth of the possible institutions and agencies were included in the redress scheme in the first place”.
She further added, “There are many, many more people that should be able to apply, but haven’t been able to”.
Ms. Libberton also highlighted the emotional impact on those affected, stating the babies were “taken from thier mothers”, adding “it’s still the same separation from their mother”.
philomena’s Law and Awareness
Regarding ‘Philomena’s Law‘, Ms. Libberton hopes that her mother’s connection to the bill will “make more people become aware” of the redress scheme in the UK, especially since “the uptake hasn’t been that high”.
She believes increased publicity is crucial: “I think it does need to be publicised a lot more, even just in newspapers and things like that,” because “There are many, many people that don’t know about it”.
Government Response
Minister of Agriculture Martin heydon acknowledged the possibility of adding institutions to the Mother-and-Baby Institutions Payment scheme.
Speaking on the same program, Mr. Heydon clarified that while legislative changes are generally required, “there is mechanism within the act that additional institutions can be added to the scheme in certain circumstances.”
The minister also mentioned that the scheme’s initial report is expected by June 30th of this year, with a review scheduled for completion by September 2026.
He assured that ”both those processes will feed into us looking at the elements of this along with the figures and take up,” and affirmed, “We do want the people, who qualify for this and who are impacted, to be able to avail of it”.
The Importance of Redress
ms. Libberton emphasized the importance of redress schemes for survivors, stating that they are “very vital”.
Reflecting on her mother’s experience, she believes the scheme provided ”some recognition for what happened” to ms. Lee.
she concluded, “It kind of gives her a bit of a sense of closure to some measurable degree. It’s a way of apology to her as well.”
Ms. Libberton also stressed the importance of understanding that “they didn’t do anything wrong”.
helpline Data
The London Irish Center offers a freephone service for survivors and former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and County Homes. Contact them at 0800 519 5519.
Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme: Q&A on Proposed Changes and Support
This article addresses common questions surrounding the Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme in Ireland and the UK, inspired by the advocacy of Philomena Lee’s daughter, Jane Libberton. It aims to provide clarity on the scheme, its limitations, and ongoing efforts to expand its reach.
Understanding the Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme
What is the Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme?
The Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme is a compensation program established to acknowledge and provide redress to individuals who suffered mistreatment and hardship while residing in mother and Baby Homes and County home Institutions in Ireland.These institutions operated largely during the 20th century.
Who is Philomena Lee and what is her connection to this issue?
Philomena Lee is a survivor of an Irish Mother and Baby Home whose story gained international recognition thru a 2013 film, “Philomena”.her personal experiance of searching for her forcibly adopted son for 50 years has made her a symbol of the injustices suffered by many women and children in these institutions.
What is “Philomena’s Law”?
“Philomena’s Law” is a bill introduced in the UK parliament by the British Labour Party. It aims to facilitate access to compensation for Irish Mother and Baby Home survivors who currently reside in the United Kingdom. The goal is to address the challenges these survivors face in accessing the Irish redress scheme from abroad.
Concerns and Proposed Changes to the Scheme
Why is Jane Libberton advocating for changes to the redress scheme?
Jane Libberton, Philomena Lee’s daughter, is advocating for a re-evaluation of the Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme because she believes its current limitations are unjust. Specifically:
Duration of Stay: She argues that basing eligibility on the length of stay within these institutions unfairly excludes many survivors.
Exclusions: She highlights the scheme’s “many exclusions,” noting that a notable number of survivors are unable to apply under the current criteria.
Limited Scope: Only a fraction of the institutions and agencies involved are currently included in the redress scheme.
How many survivors are reportedly excluded from the current scheme?
Ms. Libberton stated that approximately 24,000 survivors are unable to apply for the redress scheme under its current criteria.
What specific changes is Ms.Libberton proposing?
Ms. Libberton is urging the Irish Government to “look at the scheme again” to address the exclusions and ensure that more survivors are eligible to apply. This includes re-evaluating the criteria based on the duration of stay and expanding the list of included institutions and agencies.
Government Response and Future Review
What has been the government’s response to these concerns?
Minister of Agriculture Martin Heydon has acknowledged the possibility of adding more institutions to the Mother-and-Baby Institutions payment Scheme. He clarified that while legislative changes are generally needed, there is a mechanism within the existing act to include additional institutions under certain circumstances.
What is the timeline for the scheme’s review and potential changes?
Initial Report: The scheme’s initial report is expected by June 30th of this year.
Review Completion: A review of the scheme is scheduled to be completed by September 2026.
Minister Heydon assured that these processes will inform decisions on potential changes to the scheme, with the aim of ensuring that eligible individuals can avail of it.
The Importance of Redress and Awareness
Why are redress schemes crucial for survivors of Mother and Baby Homes?
Redress schemes are “very vital” for survivors as they provide:
Recognition: They offer some recognition for the suffering and injustices experienced by survivors.
Closure: They can contribute to a sense of closure and healing.
Apology: They serve as a form of apology for the harm caused.
Validation: They reinforce the understanding that survivors “didn’t do anything wrong.”
Why is increased publicity for redress schemes crucial?
Increased publicity is essential to ensure that more survivors are aware of the available support and compensation. Ms. Libberton believes that many eligible individuals are unaware of the scheme and its potential benefits.
Summary of Key Information
| Aspect | details |
| ————————- | ———————————————————————————————————- |
| Advocate | Jane Libberton, daughter of Philomena Lee |
| Issue | Limited scope and exclusions within the Mother and Baby Home Redress Scheme |
| Proposed Changes | Re-evaluate eligibility criteria, expand included institutions |
| *