Ireland has begun to work its way out of a “rather dark past” to develop a state that is more responsive to those in situations of vulnerability, suggested Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald at today’s conference on State Accountability for Vulnerability.

Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald provided the opening address at the second biennial conference of the Dublin City University Socio-Legal Research Centre (SLRC).

This year’s topic, “State Accountability for Vulnerability” examined the concept of human vulnerability and how people tend to experience periods of vulnerability, in some form, throughout their lifespan, through presentations from international and national law experts and non-governmental and human right organisations.

Legacy issues

During her opening speech, the Tánaiste acknowledged the legacy issues Ireland has grappled with over the past decade such as “children’s institutions, mother and baby homes, and the position of women in the Magdalene laundries”.

She questioned whether the problem was a state that was not responsive enough and failed to protect the vulnerable, or a state that was too responsive to the moral codes of the time.

“We have worked our way out of that rather dark past by developing a state that is more responsive to those who were victims and marginalized and less responsive to dominant institutions,” she said.

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