Paul McGrath
Ceist:122 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the position with regard to the work of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19449/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 30 June 2004
Ceisteanna (62)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government has accepted the recommendations in Mr. Justice Ryan's report, published in January of this year, for legislative amendments to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Act 2000. My Department is in ongoing contact with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in connection with this matter and work on the drafting of legislation amending the Act is at an advanced stage. In addition, and as a result of a consultation process that has been undertaken by the commission regarding the future operation of the investigation committee, Mr. Justice Ryan has indicated that he will shortly inform the Government of further legislative amendments which the commission considers are required.
On receipt of these further amendments, I will ensure that they are brought to Government for consideration, following which, if accepted, they will be included in the forthcoming legislation. It is anticipated that the legislation will be published in advance of the Dáil term in the autumn. In the meantime, the commission has indicated that it intends to proceed with its hearings in advance of the amending legislation and I fully support it in this approach.
With regard to the day-to-day work of the commission, the position is that the confidential committee and the investigation committee are both fully operational. The confidential committee continues to hear the stories of those persons who have applied to it and I understand that it has heard some 866 cases at this stage. The investigation committee is currently conducting a series of public hearings into the emergence of child abuse in Ireland. The details of the public hearings are posted on the commission's website www.childabusecommission.ie. In addition, the investigation committee has indicated that it intends to commence hearings on St. Joseph’s, Ferryhouse, Clonmel, in July and has scheduled to commence hearings in respect of Upton and Artane in September and October of this year respectively.