I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 436 together.
I am committed to ongoing engagement with former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and their advocates. I have directly engaged with survivors and advocacy groups since my appointment and will continue to engage with those most centrally involved with these matters.
In responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government approved the development of a Strategic Action Plan encompassing a suite of 22 specific measures. These measures, which take account of the Commission's recommendations and those of the Collaborative Forum, are intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of former residents and their families. This is a hugely important process for all connected to these institutions and I am working with colleagues in Government to advance these measures.
Most importantly, I am committed to implementing a survivor-centred approach characterised by consistent engagement with former residents and their representative groups, including those who live outside the jurisdiction. Notably, several hundred survivors have contacted my Department since the report was published, many of whom had never been in contact with us before. An increased level of engagement is also evident from the consultation process established to inform development of a Restorative Recognition Scheme, with approximately 450 written submissions received and 159 participants in seventeen online meetings.
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. Stakeholder engagement at this level requires additional dedicated structures, processes and resources to ensure it can be inclusive and effective. To this end, I am currently consulting with members of the Collaborative Forum, as I believe that learning from existing processes can assist in developing new and enhanced approaches as quickly as possible.
I held two virtual meetings with members of the Collaborative Forum in February during which the structures necessary to support future stakeholder engagement was a specific agenda item. In recognising the limited time available during plenary discussions, my department requested the facilitator to the Forum to further engage with members in one to one sessions. I look forward to hearing their feedback when this process is completed.
At present, there are four vacancies on the Collaborative Forum in addition to the position of Chair. There have been a number of resignations and replacements since the Forum's establishment in 2018 but I have no plan to appoint further members within the current Forum structure. My preference at this juncture is to focus attention on developing a new model capable of supporting wider, sustained engagement with stakeholders. The experience of Forum members, and other stakeholders with whom I have engaged, will assist the development and transition to a new model of engagement.
In relation to the Collaborative Forum’s report, it was not possible to publish the report when it was submitted to the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs because of concerns that its contents encroached upon the work of the independent statutory Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. For this reason, the Forum's recommendations were initially published and a commitment was given to revisit the question of publication following the completion of the Commission's work. Arrangements are being advanced by my Department to address the procedural requirement for identifiable parties 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.
Communication by my Department with the Forum is conducted primarily through the secretariat to the Forum. Most recently there has been contact with members in relation to the invitation for Forum representatives to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, Equality, Disability and Integration in relation to the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill.
The Joint Oireachtas Committee has held a number of meetings dedicated to pre-legislative scrutiny of the General Scheme of this Bill. I was pleased to see the Committee provide a dedicated session on Tuesday 27 April to engage with members of the Collaborative Forum. My Department has previously provided briefings and information to the Forum in the course of developing legislative proposals for this important intervention. I welcome the priority the Committee has afforded this pre-legislative scrutiny and look forward to further engagement with the Committee on this and related matters.
