Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1255. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the final report of the collaborative forum of former residents of mother and baby homes and related institutions will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20233/21]
View answerIt was not possible to publish the Collaborative Forum's report when it was submitted to the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs because the contents of the report encroached upon the work of the independent statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. For this reason, only the Forum's recommendations were initially published and a commitment was given to revisit the question of the report's publication following the completion of the Commission's work.
I know how important it is to honour that commitment. Arrangements are being advanced by my Department to address the separate procedural requirement for parties identified, or identifiable, in the report to be afforded due process prior to publication.
I expect this process to be completed in the coming weeks. I will then be in a position to engage further with the Collaborative Forum and finalise arrangements for the publication of the report.
