Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2014
147. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will include the case of a person (details supplied) in the inquiry into mother and baby homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36160/14]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation into matter relating to Mother and Baby Homes, once established, will be statutory and independent and will operate in accordance with the Commission of Investigations Act 2004.
Discussions are on-going with my Government colleagues and the Attorney General with a view to finalising our deliberations on the Commission's terms of reference in early course. The Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Mother and Baby Homes, along with the views expressed by interested parties, is informing this task. One of the key recommendations in this Report is that the Commission on Mother and Baby Homes should not repeat the work of previous investigations, in particular the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. It is noted that the institution mentioned in the details supplied by the Deputy, falls within those categories of ‘institutions’ already examined in detail by the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. This included schools, industrial schools, reformatory schools, orphanages, hospitals, children’s homes and other places where children were cared for other than as members of their families.
However, as an independent body, it will ultimately be a matter for the Commission itself to determine the approach to matters which fall within its specific terms of reference. My Department will arrange to pass the details supplied by the Deputy to the Chair of the Commission upon its establishment.
