The Institutional Burials Act 2022, which came into effect on 15 July last, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way. It also provides for the identification of remains and their return to family members, where possible.
Where the Government directs an intervention at a site, the Act provides for the establishment of an independent Office, headed by a Director, to oversee and manage that intervention. The Director is then required to identify and engage the necessary expertise to assist in the performance of his or her functions and to ensure that the excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis of remains is undertaken by appropriately qualified persons at a forensic standard and in accordance with international best practice and professional rules and guidelines.
On 4 October, the Government made an order to establish an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam, Co. Galway, under the Institutional Burials Act 2022. The making of the Order follows on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad last month approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July.
I intend to appoint a Director to head up the Office as soon as possible and my officials have been liaising with the Public Appointments Service in relation to this process. In line with the provisions of the Act, once appointed, the Director will need to engage appropriately qualified experts from a range of disciplines to undertake the forensic excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis processes in accordance with international best practice and professional rules and guidelines.
