Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2021
596. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the sending out of a document by his Department on the enhanced model of engagement to members of the collaborative forum less than 24 hours before a meeting with the forum; his views on whether this constitutes good practice and a survivor centred approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11581/21]
View answerIn responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government committed to taking a survivor-centred approach, characterised by consistent engagement with former residents and their representative groups. The design and delivery of the measures within the Government's Action Plan will be directly informed by the views of survivors, their families and advocates.
Notably, my Department has been contacted by several hundred survivors since the report was published, many of whom have never been in contact with us before. It is clear, therefore, that new demands emerge in seeking to facilitate dialogue and consultation on the Commission’s Final Report and the State’s Action Plan. Structured consultation of this nature requires specific structures, systems and resources to ensure it is inclusive and effective. This can only happen through a significantly enhanced model of engagement, with the requisite scale to support and represent the multiplicity of voices and perspectives on these matters.
I believe that a new enhanced model of engagement, which builds upon the strengths of the existing process, can add to the significant work of the Forum to date. I also believe the experience of Forum members is invaluable in beginning a discussion on how we transition to a new model of engagement. For these reasons, I arranged two meetings with members of the Collaborative Forum in February and attended both in order to provide updates on priority actions and to start a dialogue on the structures necessary to support future engagement on these issues.
Discussion on a new model of engagement was on the agenda of both meetings. It was not reached in the first meeting. The two page document to which the Deputy refers was provided to participants in advance of the second meeting to support and prompt discussion on this item. It was not an item for decision. The facilitator to the Forum is now further engaging with each individual member with a view to capturing their feedback and progressing a number of matters.
I look forward to further discussions with Forum members following the completion of this process.
