Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 April 2006
136 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science when the next review of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse will take place; the submissions which will be sought from survivor groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13448/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was established under statute to investigate child abuse in institutions in the State, to enable persons who have suffered such abuse to give evidence to committees of the commission and to prepare and publish a report of findings and recommendations considered appropriate for the alleviation of the effects of past child abuse and for the protection of children. The commission is independent in the performance of its functions under legislation.
The chairman of the commission, Judge Sean Ryan, has recently published a progress report and plan for 2006 together with a provisional timetable for phase III of the inquiry by the commission's investigation committee, which is the next round of hearings to be held by the commission. The chairman has indicated that the programme of interviews under phase II is expected to be completed by the 30 May 2006, when everyone wishing to participate in the inquiry will have testified at a committee hearing or have been interviewed.
Phase III of the inquiry by the investigation committee is scheduled for May and June 2006 and will be held in public. Religious orders that testified at the phase I public sessions will return for further examination on issues of relevance to the inquiry. The role of my Department as well as other Departments will also be examined and there will in addition be some expert evidence on specific issues.
Concerning submissions from survivor groups, the commission has invited solicitors for complainants to participate in the phase III process and a number of solicitor firms have been nominated for this purpose. The solicitors who acted for complainants in the phase II hearings are being invited to suggest to the nominated solicitor firms or to counsel for the investigation committee topics, issues or questions to be discussed at the phase III hearings.
