Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration to resume Pre-Legislative Scrutiny on Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill

The Committee will meet in the Dáil Chamber at 3.30pm with:

• Alice Coughlan, Amanda Larkin and Sidney Herdman, from The Collaborative Forum; and
• Maree Ryan-O’Brien from Aitheantas; and
• Rody O’Brien BL, Legal Counsel, from Aitheantas.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kathleen Funchion said: “This Bill forms part of the process to deal with the awful legacy of Mother and Baby Homes. Following our recent engagements with individuals, groups and organisations, and expert witnesses, the Committee looks forward to hearing the views of The Collaborative Forum and Aitheantas as we continue our scrutiny of this important legislation.” 

The purpose of the Bill is to provide ‘the statutory basis and framework under which Government may decide to authorise interventions at certain sites where manifestly inappropriate burials have taken place associated with institutions operated by or on behalf of the State or in respect of which the State had clear regulatory or supervisory responsibilities’, and for the establishment of an Agency to carry out such interventions.

It is important to note that the Committee is assessing the proposed legislation which is currently before it and not any other document.

The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Dáil Chamber and Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.