Vol. 515 No. 5
106 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to publish the findings of the two commissions presently undertaking work related to abuse of persons in industrial schools; and if these reports will be published in full and unaltered from the time they are received by Government to the date of publication and the recommendations acted upon. [6487/00]
The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Bill, 2000 provides that the commission will undertake its work through two committees – the confidential committee and the investigation committee. These committees will be formed from the members of the commission itself. Each of the committees will make a report to the full commission and the commission will publish a report based on those reports. The commission's report will be published directly to the general public by the commission itself. Accordingly, neither the Minister for Education and Science nor the Government will have any role to play in the content or publication of the commission's report. This approach is designed specifically to ensure the independence of the commission.
Apart from recording findings of fact made by the commission, the report will also contain recommendations, including recommendations as to how the needs of victims of abuse can be addressed. It is the intention of the Government that those recommendations will be acted upon.
