Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
337. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the progress being made in the investigation of the abuse suffered by persons (details supplied) while in the care of the HSE; if the investigation is operating within the timeframe envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29071/18]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation (certain matters relative to a disability service in the South East and related matters) (the Farrelly Commission) is an independent statutory Commission of Investigation. It commenced its investigations in May 2017 and its work is ongoing. The Commission was established to investigate the care and protection of "Grace" (pseudonym) and other in a former foster home in the South East, which has been the subject of abuse allegations. The first phase of the Commission's work is to investigate the role of public authorities in the care and protection of Grace, who resided with a former foster family in the South East of Ireland between 1989 and 2009. Under the Commission's Terms of Reference a final report on the Commission's phase 1 work was due to be submitted to the Minister for Health within one year of the Commission commencing its work, i.e., 15th May 2018.
The Sole Member of the Commission, Marjorie Farrelly, S.C, wrote to Minister Harris on 27 April 2018 seeking a 12 month extension to allow the Commission to complete its phase 1 investigations and prepare its report on this. The request for an extension was on the basis of the enormous volume of documentation disclosed to it from a wide range of public bodies, organisations and individuals and also the number of potential witnesses involved.
The Minister granted the Commission's request for a 12 month extension to complete its phase 1 investigations on 15 May 2018. In doing this the Minister specified that the Commission must submit a minimum of two interim reports by 15 September 2018 and 15 January 2019 setting out its progress and including a summary of work left to complete.
As required by its term of reference, the Commission presented its first interim report to the Department of Health on 15 November 2017. A second interim report was enclosed with the Commission's application for a time extension on 27 April 2018. Both of these interim reports are available on the Department's website.
