Dr Maeve O'Rourke @maeveorourke Twitter profile | Pikagi

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

@maeveorourke

15,488

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3,141

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Lecturer @IrishCentreHR | Author, Human Rights and the Care of Older People (OUP 2024) | Barrister @33BedfordRow | Also @maglaundries @clann_project 🎻

https://t.co/wzdrMgVpuZ

Joined November 2009

Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.

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@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Could not be prouder of the 8 survivors who stood up for their rights and against a Commission of Investigation process and Report that ignored them and flatly denied the awful truths of the #MotherAndBabyHomes and forced family separation system. This means change.

@clann_project

Clann Project

3 years

Irish High Court declares that Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation treated survivors unlawfully Survivors and Clann Project call on Government to amend Redress Scheme to recognise all human rights violations

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Last Seen Profiles

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@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

9 months

Ireland must join South Africa’s case before the ICJ and place sanctions on Israel. We are a state in our own right with obligations to protect humanity.

@Lowkey0nline

Lowkey

9 months

"We need to create a proper Jewish settlement in the Gaza Strip, because if we are not there, there will be 2 million Nazis who want to eliminate us...." Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich describes the population of Gaza as Nazis.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

No, you’re crying! #Stand4Truth #UnsealTheArchives

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Good luck @TodaySOR - and TEAM - on your penultimate show...! 😢 (Photo credit: RTE archives)

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Woke up still in shock that #MotherandBabyHomes Commission has destroyed vast bulk of witness evidence it received - 550 tapes of survivor testimony deleted without making transcripts. @rodericogorman @MichealMartinTD @DPCIreland What do you intend to do?

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

6 years

Thread: In 2014, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child examined the Holy See's human rights record. Regarding #Ireland it noted patterns of 'torture and other cruel or degrading treatment' and 'sale of children, trafficking & abduction' #papalvisit

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I keep thinking about the fact that the #motherandbabyhomes Commission spent exactly half of its allocated budget (€11.5m out of €23m). p15 No money spent on giving people their records, holding public hearings or printing the full report for survivors.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I just signed this petition, will you join me? #BirthCerts4AdopteesNOW #Stand4Truth #motherandbabyhomes via @UpliftIRL

Birth certs for Adoptees NOW

The long-awaited publication of the report of the Commission of Enquiry into Mother & Baby Homes has caused great distress to adopted people and survivors of Mother & Baby Homes for its failure to...

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Gorgeous day to be back to college — with added bonus of lunch with Adjunct Prof O’Rourke!

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Such a privilege to receive the students’ choice for @nuigalway President’s Award for Teaching Excellence today. Delighted that the ‘simplicity’ of my teaching shows ‘how knowledgeable she is and how comfortable she is with sharing that knowledge with others’. That’s the aim! 😍

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Secrecy: Irish officialdom’s automatic reaction to our history of church/state abuse. The Government is about to seal the archive of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation for the next 30 years. You can help stop this & #Stand4Truth :

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Point by point response to the Government’s arguments on the Mother and Baby Homes Commission archive (which the Govt keeps saying it will seal for the next 30 years when it receives it):

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke: Here's a full analysis of the problems with the Government's Mother and Baby...

Lecturer Maeve O’Rourke analyses the government’s nine main arguments in relation to the Bill.

www.thejournal.ie

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

8 months

Trinity College Head of Medicine: “I can no longer stay silent about the catastrophe in Gaza”

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College Head of Medicine: “I can no longer stay silent about the catastrophe in Gaza” – Trinity News

Trinity’s Head of the School of Medicine has said he can “no longer stay silent about the current catastrophe unfolding in Gaza” and has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. In a letter...

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I'm very glad and privileged to have been invited to work with those affected by Mother and Baby & Magdalene Laundry institutions in Northern Ireland, including people now living abroad, to design the framework for an independent investigation/inquiry. Please share this info 👇

@healthdpt

Department of Health

4 years

Team of experts who will work with victims and survivors of Mother and Baby and Magdalene Laundry Institutions to establish the terms of reference for independent investigation announced. Anyone with a connection with the institutions can get involved ➡️

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

6 years

UNCRC noted Vatican's failure to investigate the arbitrary incarceration and 'slavery-like' conditions of girls and women in Magdalene Laundries

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Milky dreamy days… totally in love with our little Fionn, born last week. @ciaranahern

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Colm Keena's piece in the Irish Times will hopefully be read alongside my previous Op Eds that explain key issues arising with #UnsealTheArchives (here and here ) and I provide a response to Colm's points in the thread below:

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Maeve O'Rourke: Not too late for State to break the secrecy around Mother and Baby Homes

If survivors of mother and baby homes are ever to have justice, the new children's minister must have the bravery to lift the veil of secrecy that hangs over the commission established to investigate...

www.irishexaminer.com

@MichealMartinTD

Micheál Martin

@MichealMartinTD

4 years

To help understand the facts about the mother & baby homes commission database, take a few minutes to read this piece by Colm Keena. The work that’s ongoing is about making sure information is made available, not that it’s hidden. Excellent journalism.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

The bureaucracy of the State and its upper echelons are removed from the people but ultimately we are—or claim to be—in charge of ourselves. Can we tell our politicians that we want to start our next century by giving rights to all: rights to justice, rights to dignified care...

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

‘We promise you will remain anonymous’ (75 of 550 wishing this) doesn’t mean - we won’t fully transcribe your testimony - we will never give you a copy of what you said - we’ll then destroy your audio - you won’t be able to challenge our report #Shame

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Mother and baby homes: Destruction of records was designed to aid confidentiality

Assurance of anonymity crucial to encouraging survivors to tell their story

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Thank you so much @irishtatler @elprendeville & all involved for this meaningful recognition of how important it is to listen to and respect the experiences of people forcibly and secretly separated from family, & how much injustice is ongoing and needs to be fought. @cmcgettrick

@irishtatler

Irish Tatler

3 years

The winners of the 2021 Public Life Award are Dr Maeve O’Rourke and Claire McGettrick, founders of The Clann Project, which set out to establish the truth of what happened to unmarried mothers and their children in 20th century Ireland, and fight for redress #WOTYA21

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

It’s been a strange but wonderful first year being locked down with you, @ciaranahern !

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

A thread in response to the Govt's plan to allow the Mother and Baby Homes Commission's archive to be sealed for 30 years (except for a database on mothers and children detained in 11 institutions which it wants to give to TUSLA): 1. The Bill shows the Oireachtas is not bound

@rodericogorman

Roderic O’Gorman TD

@rodericogorman

4 years

The entire premise of the 2004 Act, which we are bound to follow, is that investigations are held in private. That confidentiality applies to the evidence and records gathered by the inquiry. It is central to allow testimony be given freely.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

11 months

We come now to shout: and to invite you to protect us. We want to live. We want peace. We want to charge the killers of children. We want medicine, food and education. And we want to live as the other children live. #CeasefireNOW #CeaseFireInGaza

@Shepherds4Good

Good Shepherd Collective

@Shepherds4Good

11 months

Palestinian children in Gaza hold a press conference outside Al Shifa hospital, speaking English so the world cannot pretend not to understand them: “We come now to shout and invite you to protect us; we want to live, we want peace… we want to live as the other children live.”

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

🚨URGENT: Tell Government to #ExtendtheCommission so it can be held to account. Why did it destroy 550 recordings of survivor testimony without verbatim transcripts when 2004 Act requires all evidence to be preserved? How can its findings stand? (thread)

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

This morning the High Court will begin to hear the cases of Philomena Lee and Mary Harney: These warrior women (and 6 more) are challenging the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission of Investigation Report on which the Government has based its fundamentally flawed ‘redress’ plans.

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

'The institutions under investigation provided a refuge' (Executive Summary first page) #Stand4Truth Clann witness 👇

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

8 months

University of Galway is to review its relationship with Israeli institutions

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University of Galway is to review its relationship with Israeli institutions

Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh plans to strengthen University of Galway’s links with universities in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

1 year

Here is an online form where you can easily email European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: Thanks @TaraConnollyEU

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Ursula von der Leyen

President

commissioners.ec.europa.eu

@TaraConnollyEU

Tara Connolly

@TaraConnollyEU

1 year

If you are as appalled as I am with the one-sided response of @vonderleyen and @EP_President , tell them. VDL: Metsola: mailto:roberta.metsola @europarl .europa.eu Happy to DM anyone the text of the message I wrote.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Listen to Philomena, who sought a public hearing at the Commission of Investigation years ago as did other mothers. In awe of our Mná.

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Philomena Lee: Mother & Baby Homes survivors should be paid compensation

Philomena Lee has called for Mother and Baby Homes survivors to be paid compensation for their “unbearable suffering and loss”.

www.irishexaminer.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

What a strong woman Mary Cavner is. Devastating reading: ‘I have had really low points as they have made me live this again and to be accused of not telling the truth made me feel rejected.’ Magdalene Laundries victim Mary Cavner to get compensation

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Magdalene Laundries victim Mary Cavner to get compensation

Mary Cavner was forced to work at a Magdalene Laundry after her father died when she was 11.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

If you know anyone in Government, this weekend is your chance to call them,text them, tell them however you can: You want people forcibly separated from their family to have access to all their personal data. It is not too late.And we won’t stop asking

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Maeve O'Rourke: Not too late for State to break the secrecy around Mother and Baby Homes

If survivors of mother and baby homes are ever to have justice, the new children's minister must have the bravery to lift the veil of secrecy that hangs over the commission established to investigate...

www.irishexaminer.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 months

Sickened listening to the @drivetimerte report on this case earlier. Natasha O’Brien deserves so much better - What a strong and principled woman who seems clearly to have been denied justice today, with broader consequences for the fight against misogyny in Ireland.

@thejournal_ie

TheJournal.ie

4 months

Soldier is given fully suspended sentence after beating woman unconscious in unprovoked attack in Limerick Read here:

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Watch and listen, and watch and listen again. Peter Mulryan and all families of those who died in #MotherandBabyHomes have a right to all records and a right to a full, Article 2 ECHR-compliant inquests. Please act, @rodericogorman & @MichealMartinTD .

@rtepolitics

RTÉ Politics

3 years

"Every time I go to bed I think of her....why am I left this way...is she dead or alive" Tuam survivor Peter Mulryan tells the Oireachtas Children's Committee of his strong opposition to the Industrial Burials Bill. He spoke about his search for his sister, Marian @rtenews

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

‘Ireland and the Magdalene Laundries: A Campaign for Justice’ (out today) is for all the incredible women and families we’ve met and researched and campaigned alongside. Proceeds going to @epicireland . More about it here:

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A resource for people affected by and interested in Ireland's Magdalene institutions

jfmresearch.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Hard to find words to describe how devastating this morning’s hearing on Direct Provision was. The warehousing, the profiteering, the effective criminalisation and the systematic degradation of wonderful, powerful members of our society: all so similar to Magdalene Laundries.

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Watch Oireachtas Justice Committee LIVE: Presentations now from @masi_asylum and @IrishRefugeeCo

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

How naive we were in October campaigning to #unsealthearchive so that (among other things) survivors could access their transcripts of evidence. Transcripts didn’t exist: the Commission audio recorded 550 people and then deleted all. If you wish to contact @adoptionrights 👇

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 months

Received my book in the post… what a lovely feeling. So grateful for #HowardenaPindell ’s artwork. You can download it for free here Or order a hard copy here #Olderpeople #humanrights #torture #degradingtreatment #socialcare

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

🚨 URGENT - Please email your TDs and Senators and tell them: 🚨Don’t let #MotherandBabyHomes Commission dissolve w/ 550 testimonies missing 🚨Give #birthcerts4adopteesnow 🚨Open the archive & tell the truth Instructions for how to send email here:

Adopted people and Mother and Baby Homes survivors need your help! - Noelle Brown

Adopted people and Mother and Baby Homes survivors need your help! Stand with us and tell the Government to stop the abuse: Don’t Let the Commission Dissolve Give Unconditional Access to Birth Certs...

noellebrown.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Massive upside to the past two years: being married to this guy! @ciaranahern

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

“When you steal something in a shop or anywhere else, you can get done for it. You’ll be arrested, you’ll be charged, and you’ll be taken to court. These people never were. And basically that’s what they did, they stole the babies.” V important piece 👇

40 years of nothing, then a message saying 'I'm your son': Mother & son reunite after 4 decades

A Facebook friend request earlier this year changed Maria Arbuckle’s life forever.

www.thejournal.ie

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

The wonderful Philomena Lee among the brave women & families taking legal action against #MotherandBabyHomes report. Thank you to the extremely dedicated pro bono lawyers working on these cases with @clann_project also in support. via @orlaryan

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Philomena Lee among women taking legal action against findings in Mother and Baby Home report

Lee’s life story was made into an award-winning film, Philomena, in 2013.

www.thejournal.ie

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

9 months

Updated link to email TDs and Senators: Ireland must do our part under the Genocide Convention #CeasefireNOW #GazaGenocide

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Wouldn’t it be useful if everyone who gave evidence to the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission could get their testimony back from Minister @rodericogorman ’s archive to submit it to the Gardaí if they wish? Dept’s delay in responding to subject access requests is unacceptable.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

9 months

Here is a link to email TDs and Senators asking for immediate debate and support of South Africa’s case before the International Court of Justice: #ActAgainstGenocide #CeasefireNOW #GazaGenocide

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

8 months

Delighted to say my book with @OUPLaw is almost here. Can be pre-ordered & thanks to @uniofgalway @IrishCentreHR @NUIMerrionSq , will also be open access. ‘Human Rights and the Care of Older People: Dignity, Vulnerability, and the Anti-Torture Norm’

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

It is necessary bearing in mind how many people @cmcgettrick @Ka_ODonnell and I have asked to trust us, and work with us, through the @clann_project and in other ways to respond to Senator's @barrymward extremely serious, disparaging remarks in the Seanad

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Senator Barry Ward, Seanad Eireann Debate, 23rd October 2020

Truncated Transcript of Comments by Barry Ward in Seanad Eireann, 23rd October 2020Transcript with contributions from other senators is available here: http:...

www.youtube.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

When you should be on honeymoon but #GE2020 is too important: @ciaranahern has my #1 vote in #DublinSouthWest - please consider giving him yours if you can and joining us to canvass. ‘Housing is a human right’ is a frequent chant around our house. Ciaran wants to help (thread)

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

8 months

University of Galway: will strengthen relationships with universities in Gaza, the West Bank & East Jerusalem welcomes the Irish Government’s call for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement will review relationship with Israeli institutions

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

‘The Commission had no full-time lawyers.’ (Acknowledgements) You don’t say. It is on the Government to provide justice. The impunity must end. Please read recommendations of @clann_project - we also link to Collaborative Forum. #motherandbabyhomes

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Many Direct Provision owners/operators are offshore companies - how can this secrecy be compatible with State’s human rights responsibilities? I believe records of Direct Provision need to be in the National Archives -same goes for all state-funded social services past & present

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

The Government has erred extensively in its description of the 2004 Act, the Oireachtas' ability to amend the 2004 Act's application to this archive, and the content and impact of EU law in this whole domain. It's beyond disappointing and everyone has to do better. #Stand4Truth

@HMcEntee

Helen McEntee TD

4 years

A lot of misinformation about the #MotherAndBabyHome Bill last night. Minister O’ Gorman’s statement outlines clearly the intention of the Bill and his and this Government’s intention to work with survivors and those affected by institutional abuse. @rodericogorman

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

2 years

Not in my name, And nor, I believe, in the name of most people in Ireland.

@MichealLehane

Mícheál Lehane

2 years

Minister rejects amendment to mother-and-baby redress via @RTENews

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Data Protection Commission: 2004 Commissions of Investigation Act does not allow (still less require) ‘sealing’ of Mother and Baby Homes archive in Minister’s office. This is v serious.Why did AG tell the Minister otherwise? Can we see the AG’s advice?

‘Blanket’ ban on mother and baby homes data access contested

GDPR rights can override domestic legislation, data protection watchdog claims

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 months

My new book ✏️ Human Rights and the Care of Older People is just published (!) and can be ordered in hardback or read for free as an Open Access title here I discuss some of its key arguments on the @IrishCentreHR blog today:

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

International news, rightly. @rodericogorman and @MichealMartinTD , you must recover the archive — extend Commission’s life until it’s done. #IrelandsShame #MotherandBabyHomes

@POLITICOEurope

POLITICOEurope

@POLITICOEurope

4 years

An independent commission set up to investigate the abuse of women and children occurring in Ireland's Mother and Baby Homes destroyed the recorded testimonies of 550 witnesses. Prime Minister Micheál Martin says he doesn't "know how it happened."

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

550 recovered testimonies is what I’ll be celebrating today... but it should never, ever have come to this. Survivors’ and adopted people’s energy is too precious and there is still no justice and a long road ahead. The heroism of those affected by #MotherandBabyHomes is immense.

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Please listen to Noelle Brown @BrownNollieb on yesterday's @TodaywithClaire programme and join this URGENT email campaign to ensure the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission is not allowed to dissolve with 550 testimonies missing 👇👇

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Report drew 'incorrect conclusions' from testimonies

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Report drew 'incorrect conclusions' from testimonies

Independent TD for Galway West, Catherine Connolly has said the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes had drawn incorrect conclusions from the testimonies of mothers and children.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Today in the Seanad the Govt continued to state that (1) the 'entire premise' of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 is that inquiries are confidential, and (2) the Minister is therefore forced to keep the archive, including survivors' personal data, 'sealed'. Not true:

@rodericogorman

Roderic O’Gorman TD

@rodericogorman

4 years

The entire premise of the 2004 Act, which we are bound to follow, is that investigations are held in private. That confidentiality applies to the evidence and records gathered by the inquiry. It is central to allow testimony be given freely.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

8 months

Blanket denial of funds to #UNRWA is completely unacceptable— exact opposite of what the #ICJ has ordered and puts millions of civilians at further risk of death. Ireland must step up funding, and take a stand against EU inhumanity @MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar @EamonRyan

@OliverVarhelyi

Oliver Varhelyi

@OliverVarhelyi

8 months

Commission takes robust steps following the allegations against UNRWA. No business as usual. - Decision on upcoming funding in light of the investigations’ outcome. No funding foreseen until the end of February. 1/

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 months

‘When you enlist in the army, you take a pledge to protect the citizens and civilians of Ireland… He used his special combat training on me.’ Natasha O’Brien deserves justice and women deserve safety and this is not it @HMcEntee @defenceforces

@Limerick_Leader

Limerick Leader / Limerick Live

@Limerick_Leader

4 months

'This is not justice': Limerick woman's anger as man who 'viciously' attacked her gets suspended sentence

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

9 months

. @ShonaMurray_ and I spoke with Claire Byrne on @RTERadio1 this morning about South Africa’s case against Israel at the ICJ. Ireland needs to support this action and its outcomes.

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South Africa’s genocide case against Israel: How will the ICJ decide?

Shona Murray, Europe Correspondent, Euro News and Dr. Maeve O’Rourke, of the University of Galway

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

25 legal experts re-write the #MotherandBabyHomes Executive Summary based on the evidence in the Report & applying Constitutional and human rights laws that existed at the time (as the Commission should have done). Huge thanks to all the authors listed 👇

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

This video is from May 2019. Now we can add No 11: The #MotherandBabyHomes Commission destroyed all 550 recordings of witness testimonies given to its Confidential Committee without making transcripts, in breach of s43 2004 Act. Will @rodericogorman @MichealMartinTD act?

@RTEBrainstorm

RTÉ Brainstorm

5 years

10 ways institutional abuse details are still being kept secret in Ireland. By @maeveorourke @IrishCentreHR @NUIGlaw @NUIGalway

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

This is such an important read. I absolutely cannot help believing that if AOC was a man she would be treated as god’s gift to the DNC headquarters. Fair play to her. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Biden’s Win, House Losses, and What’s Next for the Left

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

My interview this morning on @morningireland : How do we know that the 550 survivor testimonies gathered by the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission are not recoverable? How can @rodericogorman @MichealMartinTD let the Commission dissolve?

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Morning Ireland Wednesday 17 February 2021

Live news, sports, weather and traffic, presented by Gavin Jennings and Mary Wilson.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

My contribution on @morningireland today re. #motherandbabyhomes report and the Government's responsibility to end the impunity:

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I have been asked by a #MotherandBabyHomes survivor who wishes to maintain her anonymity to publish this letter to Patsy McGarry @PatsyMcGarryIT , Joe Humphries @JoeHumphreys42 and Sarah Carey @sarahcareyIRL Please read.

A Letter to Patsy McGarry, Joe Humphries and Sarah Carey

21 February 2021

link.medium.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Over 500 academic and practising specialists have now signed a letter calling on Govt @SimonHarrisTD @CharlieFlanagan to ensure every family unit & single person living in Direct Provision is given the space to socially distance from each other #COVID19

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Open Letter to Government re: social distancing and direct provision

31 March 2020 For the attention of: An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD; the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan, TD; the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD; the Minister for Housing,...

docs.google.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Survivors of #MotherandBabyHomes were not sent a copy of their evidence to check it for accuracy before Commission destroyed 550 recordings without written notice. @rodericogorman @MichealMartinTD must #ExtendtheCommission - accountability matters.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Looking forward to making human rights case for access to ‘historical’ abuse information before Oireachtas Education Committee tomorrow @ 11am. Current proposal to seal all Ryan Commission records from survivors & public for 75+ yrs cannot stand. Watch:

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

10 ways institutional abuse details are still being kept secret via @rte

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

2 years

This is just callous - for Govt to force down survivors' throats that tiny redress payments "could otherwise be spent meeting the needs of today or trying to build a better future" Is accountability not about people today? & building a better future?

Zappone poem convinced Government to act on mother and baby homes, Varadkar says

Taoiseach recalled minister almost in tears as she addressed Cabinet meeting

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

6 years

All this talk of the Irish Parliamentary Party in #Election18 has reminded me how in 1901 in Westminster they forced an exemption from inspection for Magdalene Laundries under the mammoth Factory and Workshop Act 1901 - see section 103(4). #votail100 (Thread)

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Senator Lynn Ruane @SenLynnRuane : Pregnancy did not devastate women's lives. Abuse devastated their lives. Slavery devastated their lives.Forced adoption devastated their lives. Our refusal to listen, to provide their data,continues to devastate their lives. #MotherAndBabyHomes

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Seanad statements on #MotherandBabyHomes Report are scheduled for 4.40pm today. You can watch live here:

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Says it all. @rodericogorman @MichealMartinTD @LeoVaradkar @EamonRyan : You absolutely must amend this Bill to require the production of the archive’s Index. It’s hard to believe how little those in power seem to have learned. Impunity reigns.

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Minister unaware of what is in sealed mother and baby home records

The children’s minister has said he does not know what will be included in mother and baby home records that are to be sealed for 30 years.Roderic O’Gorman said

www.thetimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

#Stand4Truth #UnsealTheArchive My interview on @drivetimerte earlier on next steps for @rodericogorman

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

However, I truly believe that @rodericogorman and all politicians I have spoken to have a desire to fix the decades and decades of secrecy and I am determined to work with them to achieve that— which they must, very soon. #Stand4Truth

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

#Stand4Truth For the past month the Minister in every briefing and debate on the Bill has instructed his officials to implement an unlawful policy when they receive the Commission’s archive: ie to send letters like this: So I think harm has been done

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Philomena Lee and Mary Harney’s test cases are before the High Court this Wednesday and Thursday, challenging the #MotherandBabyHomes Commission of Investigation’s procedures and findings. Report by @MaryCarolanIT : via @IrishTimes

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High Court to hear test challenge against mother and baby commission’s report

State to focus on commission’s independence during inquiry when defending challenge

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

7 months

Absolutely horrific reports of Flour Massacre in Gaza. Israeli forces targeting people desperately waiting for food for their emaciated families. @LeoVaradkar @EamonRyan @MichealMartinTD please keep pressure at EU & we must do more to help end #GazaGenocide & ensure #CeasefireNOW

@alison_phipps

Alison Phipps አሊሰን 🧡🕊️

7 months

“Reporting from the scene, Al Jazeera’s Ismail al-Ghoul said that after opening fire, Israeli tanks advanced and ran over many of the dead and injured bodies. “It is a massacre, on top of the starvation threatening citizens in Gaza,” he said.”

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

6 years

Eeep! New #immodest title. Thrilled to reach the end of the PhD road today. Thanks to the many who got me here - you know who you are!!

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Actually: The State (our State) that participated in & presided over the systematic stripping of constitutional rights continues to do so by denying access to information, ordinary justice mechanisms & statutory rights to social care. This is us, today.

Mother and baby homes: another chapter from dark side of 20th-century Ireland

Commission set to publish final report on outrageous abuse of women and children

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I'm pretty sure these #Confessors on @rte & the general public don't agree with sealing every record in the Ryan Commission's archive for 75 years (Retention of Records Bill),or the Taoiseach's Department keeping the McAleese archive of Magdalene records secret for 'safe keeping'

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Everyone moved by the Case of Majella Moynihan on @RTEdoconone should immediately contact all Senators and Minister for Children calling for reversal of Govt proposals to greatly restrict access to historical adoption files & birth certificates (due for Seanad debate next week).

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

In October Govt argued sealing #MotherandBabyHomes Commission's archive would be fine because survivors could 'access' their 'own story told in their own words' from the Final Report. Govt knew from end of Oct: Final Report provides scraps & 550 full testimonies were destroyed.

@rodericogorman

Roderic O’Gorman TD

@rodericogorman

4 years

To be clear, the final report will reproduce the anonymised testimony of each individual who appeared before it. People will be able to access and recognise their own story told in their own words.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Please ask your #GE2020 candidates to legislate so that all adopted people receive their birth cert, and all affected by adoption, including the countless women whose children were unlawfully taken, have full access to their personal data. #Stand4Truth

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

1 year

The appallingly unfair #MotherandBabyHomes ‘redress’ scheme is before the Seanad again this Tuesday. It entirely excludes most people born in the institutions. Please continue to call and email Senators and TDs:

@maeveorourke

Dr Maeve O'Rourke

1 year

To learn more about the Government’s Mother and Baby Institutions ‘redress’ plans and make your views known to Senators, visit:

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

#MotherandBabyHomes report Recommendations Chapter, para 14, is so upsetting & demeaning (again, among many other paras): ‘Financial redress for past wrongs involves the present generation paying for the wrongs of earlier generations and it could be argued that this is unfair.’

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

2 months

I spoke to @drivetimerte earlier today about the religious orders’ failure to contribute to the (deeply flawed) Mother and Baby institutions payment scheme - unsurprising given successive governments’ refusal to enable access to court so people can sue

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Mother and Baby Home redress scheme fails to secure deal with holy orders

The government negotiator has failed to reach an agreement with holy orders in relation to The mother and Baby redress scheme in the given timeline allotted by government . Patsy McGarry of the Irish...

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

An absolutely key question is why has Govt not activated existing Coroner powers to retrieve and investigate identity and cause of death of Tuam babies? Its draft legislation would disapply Coroner: 'Four years on and no action’

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'Four years on and still no action': Call for Tuam mother and baby home site to be excavated

A test excavation found a “significant” quantity of human remains, but a full excavation has still not happened – to the frustration of survivors and archaeologists.

www.thejournal.ie

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

5 years

Now more than 725 doctors, lawyers & practitioners and academics are calling on Govt to ensure that every family and single person in Direct Provision is enabled to socially distance from each other: #COVID19

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Open Letter to Government re: social distancing and direct provision

31 March 2020 For the attention of: An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, TD; the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan, TD; the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, TD; the Minister for Housing,...

docs.google.com

@IrishTimes

The Irish Times

5 years

More than 400 doctors, lawyers, public health officials, academics and migration experts have warned the Irish health system will be unable to cope if cases of coronavirus become widespread in direct provision centres

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

7 months

Why I will #VoteYesNo : A Right to Care and the Care Referendum on 8 March

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A Right to Care and the Care Referendum on 8 March

With naïve optimism, for much of last year I expected that the Government’s Referendum proposal on ‘care’ would implement the…

link.medium.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

In this piece @cmcgettrick and I explain the purpose of the @clann_project and correct some inaccuracies in how our work— and more importantly the testimony of the Clann witnesses— is discussed in the #MotherAndBabyHomes Commission Report.

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Mother and baby homes inquiry’s lack of transparency was damaging

Commission declined requests to hold public hearings, denying many survivors a voice

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

6 years

Amazing scene:people waving, clapping and beeping as the motorcade comes down canal w wonderful Magdalene survivors #DublinHonoursMagdalenes

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Thanks to my students and colleagues, and to the many people who have contributed huge time, expertise and energy to the Human Rights Law Clinic work since we started in September 2019 — Read about some of what we’ve been up to here:

@IrishCentreHR

Irish Centre for Human Rights

4 years

Congratulations to our colleague Dr @maeveorourke on receiving a College of Business, Public Policy and Law Teaching Excellence award (nominated by students) #teachingexcellence @NUIGLaw

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

I do not accept the Senator's characterisation of our actions in the @clann_project . His comments are harmful and unjustified. I don't believe he would have made them outside of the Seanad. Indeed he did not make them to me on his podcast.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

3 years

Our Truth Recovery Design Panel Report and Recommendations will be published today. Sincere thanks to all who participated, yet again re-living extremely difficult memories and describing continuing abuses while making proposals for justice measures.

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Mother-and-baby homes: Panel backs public inquiry

A panel investigating homes for unmarried mothers says there should be immediate redress payments.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

'There [was] a way out of this week’s mess, [had] the minister and the Government [been] brave enough to take it.' I wrote 7 days ago, here: … Instead, Govt continued to assert an unlawful policy. #Stand4Truth #UnsealTheArchive #motherandbabyhomes

@MichealMartinTD

Micheál Martin

@MichealMartinTD

4 years

To help understand the facts about the mother & baby homes commission database, take a few minutes to read this piece by Colm Keena. The work that’s ongoing is about making sure information is made available, not that it’s hidden. Excellent journalism.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

First step: open the full files to every person whose personal data they contain; only this will allow people to effectively assert their basic rights - in court, to the Gardaí & in any inquiry. End the secrecy please @rodericogorman #UnsealtheArchives

Illegal adoptions review advises against inquiry despite thousands of ‘suspicious’ files

Review based on small sample suggests up to 20,000 suspicious cases may be in archives

www.irishtimes.com

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Very disappointed to report that the M&B Homes Commission of Investigation is still blanket restricting survivors' access to institutional records, despite the advice of DPC () and AG () & govt's Oct. statement

Government Statement on Mother and Baby Homes

At its meeting today, the Government had a detailed reflection on all of the issues of public concern that were raised in recent days. The Government acknowledges and regrets the genuine hurt felt by...

merrionstreet.ie

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

#StandforTruth Here's a legal opinion signed by a number of lawyers on the options available to Govt re. Adoption Information & Tracing Legislation. It's vital to remember that all birth certs are public records & information is different to contact.

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

This 👇 It is just shocking that the Government and Irish Times are continuing to incorrectly assert the 2004 Commissions of Investigation Act requires ‘sealing’ of the Commission’s archive when the Minister receives it.

@CBridge_Chief

Daragh O Brien mastodon.ie/@CastlebridgeChief

4 years

@Tupp_Ed @gavreilly The Minister has said: “Look over there! A squirrel!” TUSLA have ongoing issues with #DataProtection compliance (a relatively newly appointed DPO has their work cut out). And the key unresolved issue is the assertion the legislation can do a thing it can’t do - prohibit a right

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Dr Maeve O'Rourke

4 years

Quite a patronising take by @PatLeahyIT here on what was a carefully prepared & executed campaign by @clann_project to get the civil service to stop acting unlawfully by ‘sealing’ & stating they have to ‘seal’ people’s personal data and evidence of abuse

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