Mary Lou McDonald
Question:672. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice the work undertaken by the Hickson commission of investigation to date since the formal commencement of the work on 1 November 2018. [11485/21]
View answerWednesday, 3 March 2021
Questions (672, 675)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:675. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice when she expects the Hickson commission of investigation to conclude its work. [11489/21]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 675 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Hickson Commission is tasked with the investigation of the extent to which a number of organisations, including State bodies, and individuals were aware of the activities of Bill Kenneally and whether they failed to take appropriate action.
The work of the Commission is at an investigative phase. The Commission held an opening hearing in November 2019 which was attended by some of the survivors with their legal advisers and also had representatives of An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Tusla and Basketball Ireland.
During 2019 and 2020, the Commission’s legal team attended a number of locations on a number of occasions to interview relevant parties. The Commission’s legal team continues to contact relevant parties and interview witnesses. The Commission has received and reviewed a large volume of disclosure. It has also sought, on an ongoing basis, submissions from interested parties (having regard to its terms of reference) in relation to its ongoing work, including in relation to the scope for and conduct of physical hearings under the current public health restrictions.
Once the Commission is in a position to proceed with hearings in relation to all of the evidence before it, it is anticipated that it could conclude its work and issue a report within 8-12 months.
The Commission has at all times had, and will continue to have, due regard to its terms of reference.