Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2014
62. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will outline the proposed model for the commission of investigation for mother and baby homes; its terms of reference and scheduled programme of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28268/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am seeking an update from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the proposed model for the commission of investigation for mother and baby homes, and other similar institutions. I wish to know the proposed commission's status, including the preparation of its terms of reference and the scheduled programme of work. I am anxious to establish if the Minister has an idea of the duration of the sitting of the commission of investigation, and other matters.
I wish to acknowledge Deputy Ó Caoláin's constructive contribution to this matter on behalf of his party. I also acknowledge his written submission. As I told Deputy Troy, I intend to proceed with the process of consultation which I have found to be both informative and engaging.
Deputy Ó Caoláin will be aware that the Government has undertaken to establish a commission of investigation into the concerns that have arisen about mother and baby homes. The decision to establish a commission into these matters received the unanimous endorsement of this House. I have undertaken to report back to the House on the establishment of the commission before 17 July. I have also publicly confirmed that the intended scope of the investigation will go well beyond the home operated by the Sisters of Bon Secours in Tuam, County Galway. These announcements have been widely welcomed.
The commission of investigation will be statutory and independent and will operate under the Commission of Investigations Act 2004. The process of developing detailed terms of reference for the commission is being supported by the work of a high-level cross-departmental review committee. The committee was asked to complete its considerations by 30 June, so as to inform the Government's deliberations. That deadline was met and I reported to the Cabinet this morning.
I wish to thank the officials on the review committee and the Departments involved for the significant body of work they have undertaken within a short period. I will now consult with my Government colleagues on decisions to be made on foot of the committee's report and on the earlier endorsement by the House of the proposal to establish a commission of investigation.
The appropriate model, including the matters to be investigated and the proposed approach to these matters, is being considered as part of the consideration of the commission's terms of reference. Public calls to include a range of institutions and concerns related to particular practices are also being considered as part of this work.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
As well as working closely with my own officials, I wish to acknowledge the constructive contribution of the Deputy and other Opposition spokespersons with whom I have met in recent days. I look forward to continuing engagement across the House with a view to achieving all-party consensus as the necessary arrangements are finalised. I have also met with representatives of a number of key advocacy groups and church leaders, including the Adoption Rights Alliance, First Mothers Group, Bethany Homes Survivors Group, Cúnamh, Adoption Loss and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. I also hope to meet with Archbishop Jackson at his earliest availability. The submissions made to me during these constructive discussions, together with those received through my Department’s dedicated e-mail facility, will feed into the process. I am confident that this inclusive approach in the essential scoping phase will assist in establishing an inquiry which is capable of effectively addressing these important matters in a sensitive and timely manner.
I assure the House that I am committed to taking the most appropriate approach to establish the truth in respect of these deeply tragic and disturbing events. It is my intention to bring a resolution before both Houses prior to the summer recess to facilitate the making of an order to formally establish the commission. It is my earnest wish that, with the support of both Houses of the Oireachtas, we can conclude these matters and have the commission embark on the investigation of matters of great priority at an early date.
Will the Minister ensure that all victims and survivors of these so-called mother and baby homes and other similar institutions will have their experiences fully acknowledged so that real healing, if not closure, can get under way? I emphasise that the process should include all victims and survivors. This is the opportunity and time to address these issues. I ask him to ensure nobody is left behind. When we review this exercise following a period of time, I will not want to see a situation whereby others are still knocking at the door and hoping their circumstances will be taken on board and acted on. Will the Minister ensure that we leave nobody behind and that the commission of investigation will have terms of reference that provide for a fully inclusive and comprehensive investigation?
I am anxious to ensure that we establish the truth and the historical context of mother and baby homes. We will do so without losing sight of the responsibility that my Department and this House bear for the children of today. Over the past couple of weeks, as well as holding several constructive engagements with Deputy Ó Caoláin and his party colleague, Deputy McLellan, I have also met representatives of a number of key advocacy groups and church leaders, including Adoption Rights Alliance, First Mothers Group, Bethany Homes Survivors Group, Cúnamh, Adoption Loss and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. I also hope to meet with Archbishop Jackson at his earliest opportunity. The submissions made to me in the course of these constructive discussions, together with those received through my Department’s dedicated e-mail facility - I have received in excess of 100 written submissions - will feed into the process. I am confident that this inclusive approach in the essential scoping phase will assist in establishing an inquiry which is capable of effectively addressing these important matters in a sensitive and timely manner.
Apart from the need to ensure that account is taken of all relevant institutions as part of the investigation, I hope the scope of the investigation will include how these institutions were established and run; the infant, child and adult mortality and morbidity rates; adoption, nursing, fostering and boarding out practices; the vaccine and other clinical or medical trials and medical experimentation; forced labour and incarceration of unmarried girls and women; general conditions in the institutions; burial practices and locations; and cross-Border and international movements of pregnant women and babies. This movement applied not only in regard to adoption practices with the United States, but also in respect of movement or trafficking on the island of Ireland that must also feature in the remit of the commission of investigation. I urge the Minister to seize the opportunity. I believe he intends to do so and, if he does, he will have the full support of this House.
I refer the Deputy to the resolution already agreed by this House regarding mother and baby homes, the arrangements for the burial of children, the need to document fully and accurately the history of these homes and other issues that have arisen, a number of which have appropriately been mentioned by the Deputy. I refer specifically to infant mortality rates, irregular adoptions both within this jurisdiction and beyond our shores, the issue of clinical trials, the North-South dimension and the matter of anatomical research.
I am committed to taking the most appropriate approach to establish the truth in respect of these deeply tragic and disturbing events. It is my intention to bring a resolution before both Houses prior to 17 July to facilitate the making of an order that will formally establish the commission. It is my earnest wish that the support of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann can lead to a conclusion of these matters with the commission and embark on the investigation of matters of great priority at an early date.
