One of the primary objectives of the commission on childhood abuse is to provide a forum to victims of abuse to tell of the abuse they suffered. As the Taoiseach stated when announcing the establishment of the commission it is proposed that the first task of the commission will be to determine whether it requires alteration to its terms of reference, how it proposes to carry out its work and whether it needs statutory powers and protections. This phase of the commission's work is to be completed within three months of its establishment.