The Taoiseach has made a formal state apology to the victims and survivors of Mother and Baby Homes.
Micheál Martin told the Dáil that basic kindness was not shown to vulnerable women by either church or state.
The Taoiseach described the treatment of these women was a flagrant breach of human rights, and said that the country embraced a "perverse religious morality and control".
He said an apology is not enough and committed to responding to the recommendations of the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes' report.
He said: "On behalf of the Government, the State and its citizens, I apologise for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a Mother and Baby Home or a County Home.
"As the Commission says plainly - 'they should not have been there'.
"I apologise for the shame and stigma which they were subjected to and which, for some, remains a burden to this day."
He added that the report brings to light "significant failures of the State, the Churches and of society".
Mr Martin said the Government would introduce 'information and tracing legislation as a priority' so survivors can have access to information about their birth.
