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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021

Tuesday, 27 July 2021

Questions (1205, 1218)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

1205. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a report (details supplied); his plans with regard to the report; the consideration given to include the alternative executive summary as an additional appendix to the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39465/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

1218. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on and response to the mother and baby homes commission of investigation report draft alternative executive summary document. [40178/21]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1205 and 1218 together.

While a range of views have been expressed in reaction to the Commission of Investigation's Final Report, it is important to emphasise that the Commission was entirely independent in the performance of its functions and this independence was guaranteed in law.

It was a matter for the Commission alone to reach whatever conclusions it deemed possible based on its assessment of the full body of evidence available to it, including through the work of the Confidential Committee. The Commission itself has previously highlighted the necessity to take all of its reports into consideration when assessing its outcomes and findings. The final report alone extends to over 2,800 pages and the Commission’s Executive Summary does not stand in isolation from the comprehensive analysis on each institution and related themes.

Although the academics in this instance did not have the powers and reach of a statutory Commission of Investigation, or access to the Commission's full archive of records, their report is nevertheless a valuable exercise because a plurality of voices and analyses can add to the understanding of our shared history. The Commission's terms of reference specifically acknowledge the importance of its work in supporting further historical research. I, therefore, welcome this academic engagement and the Government has committed to supporting further research and access to records as key parts of our response to the Commission’s Report.

The authors recognise that this is a creative academic exercise and not intended to replace the Executive Summary of the Commission’s report but, rather, to examine whether alternative findings were possible to those reached by the Commission. It is important to recognise that the Commission's reports were prepared and submitted in accordance with a robust statutory framework.  Therefore, despite the suggestion by the Deputy, I do not have the legal authority to append material to the report of an independent statutory inquiry.

In relation to the academic report's conclusions on the role of the State in the Mother and Baby institutions, I said very clearly when publishing the Commission’s report, that the State failed, time and again, to protect some of its most vulnerable citizens, and to uphold some of their most fundamental rights.  While the Commission’s Report is not the end point of the State’s response to mother and baby and county home institutions, it provides the initial basis on which we are building a series of responses to the needs and concerns of survivors and their families.

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