I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 193, inclusive, together.
The Deputy has sought responses to a series of questions on the methodology and approach of the Commission of investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters in conducting its investigations.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission is independent of Government in the conduct of it investigation. This independence, which is provided for in law, is a fundamental principle in the establishment of a statutory inquiry under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004. As the specified Minister for receiving its report, I have no role or influence in its work.
In accordance with section 10 of the 2004 Act, the Commission may, subject to the Act and the Commission's rules and procedures, conduct its investigation in the manner that it considers appropriate in the circumstances of the case. The Commission is required to submit its final report to me by the 30th October and it is reasonable to expect that many of the procedural and other issues raised by the Deputy will be addressed in the final report.
The Commission's archive will not include any original State records. The Commission received or created copies of relevant records in the course of its inquiries. The original State records remain in the possession of the relevant host organisation. Access to these records is governed by statue, and no changes are proposed to these arrangements.
In relation to the Confidential Committee module, articles 3 and 4 of the Commission's Terms of Reference prescribe how the Confidential Committee must conduct its business and how this should be reported. Again, for the reasons already stated, I have no details of who was required to engage with the Commission, the numbers and manner or format of their engagement, or the methodology applied by the Committee or the Commission in is this regard. The Commission has recently advised that the personal testimonies provided by individuals to this Committee will be included in the final report in an anonymised manner.