DUBLIN, Ireland: Survivors of childhood abuse at industrial and reformatory schools in Ireland received an "unequivocal apology" from the Taoiseach.

Micheál Martin apologized in the Dáil on "behalf of the Government, the State, and all the citizens of the State" for "the profound sorrow for the terrible pain and abuse suffered".

Addressing survivors, he said, "What you endured on a daily basis as innocent children was harrowing, heartbreaking, and wrong."

Four abuse survivors — Mary Donovan, Mary Dunlevy Greene, Miriam Moriarty Owens, and Maurice Patton O'Connell — were seated in the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery and received applause before the apology was delivered.

They had been holding a hunger strike outside Leinster House to draw attention to the ongoing problems they still face because of the abuse they suffered.

The Taoiseach repeated the state's 1999 apology, calling it a "sincere and long overdue apology" to victims of childhood abuse. He said the country had failed to step in, recognize their suffering, and protect them.

He described steps taken by different governments over the years to address past abuse and to prevent it from happening again.

The Taoiseach also said the protest group had concerns about whether the new support measures approved in 2023 were strong enough.

The government agreed to further improve these services after a mediation process, he said.

He explained that this would include better access to health services for survivors of industrial and reformatory schools. This will be done by appointing dedicated health liaison officers and improving access to counselling and physiotherapy. Work to put these services in place has already started.

He also said there was an agreement to provide more funding for education grants under the Supports for Survivors of Residential Institutional Abuse Act 2025 (Education Act 2025).