Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration to consider Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill

The purpose of the Bill is to provide ‘the statutory basis and framework under which Government may decide to authorise interventions at certain sites where manifestly inappropriate burials have taken place associated with institutions operated by or on behalf of the State or in respect of which the State had clear regulatory or supervisory responsibilities’, and for the establishment of an Agency to carry out such interventions.

The Committee, chaired by Kathleen Funchion TD, will hold four two-hour sessions with individuals, groups/organisations and expert witnesses, alternating between the Dáil Chamber and Committee Room 3 of Leinster House. To comply with public health guidelines, there will be at least a 30-minute break between each session. Some witnesses will be onsite for their session, while other will join remotely. Members will participate in each session remotely from their offices in Leinster House.

The first session from 9.30am-11.30am in the Dáil Chamber will be chaired by Deputy Funchion and will hear from:

• Catherine Corless and Aidan Corless (appearing onsite);
• Susan Lohan and Mary Harney (appearing onsite); and
• Prof Phil Scraton and Dr Maeve O’Rourke (appearing remotely).

The meeting will then move to Committee Room 3, where Committee Vice-Chairman Deputy Patrick Costello will be in the Chair to hear from:

• Human Rights & Equality Commission – Ray Murphy and Sinead Fitzpatrick (appearing remotely from 12-1pm); and
• Irish Council for Civil Liberties – Doireann Ansbro and Elizabeth Carthy (1-2pm).

Deputy Seán Sherlock will act as Temporary Chairman in the Dáil Chamber from 3-5pm to hear from:

• Tuam Home Survivors Network – Kevin Higgins and Peter Mulryan (appearing onsite);
• Cork Survivors and Supporters Alliance – David Dodd BL (appearing remotely); and
• Know my Own – Martin Parfrey (appearing onsite).

Deputy Funchion will be back in the Chair again in Committee Room 3 for the final session from 5.30-7.30pm to hear from:

• Anna Corrigan (appearing onsite) and Carl Buckley BL (appearing remotely);
• Dr Stephen Donoghue and Associate Professor Jens Carlsson (UCD, appearing remotely);
• Dr Niamh McCullagh – Lead Archaeologist at Tuam (appearing remotely); and
• Aidan Harte – Forensic Archaeologist.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Deputy Funchion said: “Following publication of the report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in January, the Committee agreed as an absolute priority to progress work on any legislation arising from the report. To speed up the scrutiny process, we have agreed to hold this special meeting with four sessions spread over one day to hear the views of these witnesses on this important legislation.

“It is important that the proposed Bill receives comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny by the Committee. Members are united in our desire to ensure justice for the survivors of Mother and Baby Homes and we look forward to engaging with all the witnesses. Following the meeting, the Committee will schedule further meetings on this topic.” 

It is important to note that the Committee is assessing the proposed legislation which is currently before it and not any other document.

The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Dáil Chamber and Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.