Philomena's Law gets the green light

THE UK Government has announced that Philomena’s Law will be introduced to protect survivors of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Homes living in Britain from losing vital means-tested benefits after accepting compensation from the Irish Government’s redress scheme.

The announcement is the fruit of a year-long campaign led by Liam Conlon MP and the national charity Irish in Britain, which secured cross-party backing from more than 100 MPs and peers, as well a prominent Irish public figures including Siobhán McSweeney, Dara Ó Briain, and Steve Coogan.

The measure was confirmed on Friday March 13 at the UK–Ireland Summit in Cork, where the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach jointly announced the commitment.

Before the change, payments received through Ireland’s Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme could affect the recipient’s UK benefits, but following the latest developments these payments will be ring-fenced. It removes the burden of having to choose between rejecting redress and being penalised financially under the UK system.

Some 13,000 people living in Britain are survivors of the Mother and Baby Homes.

Campaigners say the reform ensures that compensation intended to acknowledge historic injustice does not inadvertently cause further financial hardship for survivors.

Liam Conlon, Labour MP for Beckenham and Penge (above), said: “I’m delighted the Prime Minister has announced the government’s support for Philomena’s Law, helping to deliver long-awaited justice for nearly 13,000 survivors in Britain. I’m proud to have led this campaign, working with Irish community organisations right across the country, and so many survivors who have been part of this campaign. This has all been about survivors—and their voices and stories have been at the heart of this campaign from the beginning.”