Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
26. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration when the final report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation will be published in view of the fact the crucial report for survivors has been delayed several times. [22557/20]
View answerMy question is in a similar vein. I wish to know when the final report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation will be published in view of the fact that the crucial report for survivors has been delayed several times.
I thank the Deputy. I am acutely aware of the importance of the commission of investigation and of how much the report is anticipated by the former residents and their families. The commission's final report is due to be submitted to me by 30 October 2020. It is important to understand that when the commission submits its final report to me, I will have to address a number of procedural matters before I can seek the approval of the Government to publish it. This will necessitate engagement with the Attorney General, as the Government's legal adviser, and consequently there will be an interval between the delivery of the report to my Department and the making of the separate arrangements for its publication. No commission publishes its report directly. I am aware that the anguish felt by many former residents of mother and baby homes and their families has been prolonged by the commission's need for additional time but I believe they understand the commission is investigating very important, sensitive, personal material and actions that took place over the span of 75 years.
It is important to reiterate that the commission is completely independent in the conduct of its investigations. It must act within the terms of reference it operates under and the previous Government, when it granted a number of extensions, was always satisfied the commission endeavoured to conclude its report as quickly as possible. The priority must be to safeguard the substantial work that has been done in order that the commission can comprehensively address and conclude these crucial matters as quickly as possible. I share the desire of all the interested parties to see the commission conclude its work and look forward to receiving the final report at the end of October. Our duty to the women and children who passed through these institutions is to ensure their lived experiences are shared, acknowledged and understood. I will keep former residents and Members of this House informed of the situation when the report is received and it is my intention to publish it as soon as possible.
As the Minister will be aware and, in fairness, has acknowledged, a number of dates were given for publication. As late as 3 June last, it was confirmed that it would go ahead on the expected date of 26 June. At that stage, everybody thought that would be the date. However, on 12 June, there was a delay, which was said to be due to Covid-19. The experience of people who have been treated and failed so badly by the State has been delay after delay. Saying Covid-19 was the issue at the end of June when the Covid pandemic started in March caused people to become suspicious and one cannot blame them. I would feel the same way if I was in that position.
I appeal to the Minister, who I believe wants to do the right thing on this, to ensure that this is not delayed any further. At this stage, the commission must have had enough time. I appreciate the complexities and that time is needed as this investigation cannot be rushed but at this stage the commission of investigation needs to stick to the date of 30 October.
I fully agree with the Deputy. In fairness to the commission of investigation, we are all aware that a chunk of our lives was missed this year and that has caused difficulties and delays for everyone in every context. I do not want to make comparisons because I do not want to minimise the issue we are discussing. However, everyone's lives were delayed and that is the context here.
I met two members of the commission of investigation around a month ago and we had a useful discussion. I asked them if they were absolutely confident about the date of 30 October and they replied that they were. I am confident about that date and that on that date we can begin the process of doing due diligence on the Government side to make sure we can have the report published as quickly as possible. As the Deputy is aware, it is important to flag to the survivors that we will not have it published on that day. It is my absolute intention, however, to publish it as quickly as is possible subject to the advice of the Attorney General and the Government's decision thereafter.
While I understand the Minister's point, if the 30 October deadline is adhered to, it will be the first time a timeline will have been met in this whole scenario. The report should have been published before the Covid pandemic started. Covid should not come into this. I never know what we can say about mother and baby homes, institutional abuse and all the horrible things that happened. The State has totally failed people. One thing we can do, apart from apologising, is publish the report and get the information. It is important the deadline is not extended any further.
The first group of people to be given copies of the report must be the survivors. Unfortunately nowadays, we see leaks to the media a few days or weeks in advance of publication of any report. We do not want survivors to open a newspaper and read about various parts of the report before they have been told it has been completed and is available. I appeal to the Minister, insofar as it is possible and within his power to do so, to ensure the survivors are the first to get copies of the report.
The Deputy makes a fair point. My Department has a network of people it communicates with on all issues to do with the mother and baby homes commission of investigation, and we will use that network. However, the Deputy is correct that we will need a clear communications approach as regards the publication of this report. I remember when the Saville inquiry in London published its final decision on Bloody Sunday that the relatives were all present and were given copies of the report. I remember them waving them out the windows of the Houses of Parliament. That was done in a way that was respectful to relatives. I take on board the Deputy's point on the importance of communicating with survivors and getting the report to them quickly in a way that is respectful.
