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Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (1130)

Holly Cairns

Question:

1130. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his engagement with the forum for the survivors of mother and baby homes; the number of meetings since he took office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2576/22]

View answer

Written answers

I am committed to ongoing engagement with survivors and their advocates in the context of implementing the wide-ranging actions approved by Government in responding to the findings of the Commission. These actions, which take account of the Collaborative Forum’s recommendations, are intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of former residents and their families.

Following publication of the Commission's final report, several hundred survivors and former residents living in Ireland and abroad have sought to engage with my Department. I recognise that many survivors want to contribute to the development of solutions to the issues of concern to them and their families. I have personally engaged with survivors and advocacy groups, including members of the Collaborative Forum, since my appointment and I will continue to engage with those most centrally involved with these matters.

Our experience to date tells us that stakeholder engagement at this significant level requires additional dedicated structures, processes and resources to ensure it can be inclusive, effective and sustainable. As outlined in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, we are transitioning towards new enhanced arrangements for consultation and stakeholder engagement. This development is essential in facilitating a survivor-centred approach to the important work being advanced across Government. I will be bringing detailed proposals in this regard to Government early this year. 

The Collaborative Forum process was unfortunately interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It was necessary to put meetings on hold in the context of the public health restrictions as a number of members travel from outside the jurisdiction and some members are also in the at-risk groups identified by public health authorities. However, I did hold two virtual meetings with members in 2021 and the proposed new structures to support wider stakeholder engagement was a specific agenda item. Further discussions on this issue were independently facilitated with Forum members and the Forum’s feedback has assisted in refining the initial proposals. I have advised the Forum of my intention to meet with members again in advance of introducing new structures.

Separately, Collaborative Forum members have individually and collectively contributed to survivor focused consultations around individual actions, including the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill and the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022. In addition, the Forum had a dedicated session as part of the consultations with survivors on the Payments Scheme and Forum members are actively involved on the steering group for the NUIG research project examining language, terminology and representation. 

My Department regularly issues updates on related matters to all parties on our mailing list, including members of the Forum, and these communications will be supplemented this year with the introduction of quarterly updates on implementation of the Action Plan.  

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