Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2021
215. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged in correspondence or meetings with the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation since he assumed office; if so, the details of when such correspondence and meetings took place; and his views on the refusal by the Commission to grant interviews to the media or to come before Oireachtas committees. [9281/21]
View answerSince taking office at the end of last June, I have engaged in three formal meetings with the Commission of Investigation. The dates of these meeting were as follows:
- 27th July 2020
- 15th October 2020
- 13th November 2020
I have also corresponded with the Commission over this period in the context of the legislation enacted in October 2020 to protect its records; in relation to the receipt of its final report on the 30th October 2020; in relation to the matters raised by the Data Protection Commissioner; and to ensure the effective management of the transfer of its archive to my Department.
As an independent statutory investigation, it is a matter for the Commission itself to respond to any request for interview from the media or indeed any invitation from an Oireachtas Committee.
