Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Great disappointment has been expressed to us at the delay in the publication of the current report. It is worth stating the process started in 2015 and arguably before that and almost four years will have elapsed by the time the commission completes its work. Many of the survivors of the institutions who had wrongs inflicted on them are reaching an advanced age and they may not be around when the commission concludes its work. That is a cause of concern for many. Some survivors have not had an opportunity to avail of any previous schemes relating to institutional abuse of any kind. I refer for example to residents of the Bethany Home, among others. Much concern is evident in that regard.

Much of the media commentary more so than debate in this House has focused on the mother and baby home in Tuam - with good reason - but it is vitally important that we examine all the sites. In my constituency, I am very conscious of the mother and baby home at Bessborough. It is vitally important that we ensure all sites where question marks remain are properly investigated.

The Minister made a point about the request for information. I heard such an advertisement yesterday. I welcome that initiative.

I do not have any information or evidence, but if we compare the numbers of children who died in that institution during the years, it was open with the official burial site, it is difficult to credit that all those dead children could be located on the site. That is simply an observation and I do not have any specific information on it. It is vital that all those sites be properly investigated.

There has been some discussion around the consultative forum. I wish to reflect on an observation made to me on many of the hearings. The consultative forum is a valuable initiative. It is essential in any discussions around any of these things that counsellors are on hand. The discussions may be traumatic and potentially difficult for those who were affected. That issue needs to be incorporated.

We had a debate on a proposal for a truth commission. The Minister did not necessarily agree on all the issues. One of the reasons I put forward the case for that commission was because there are connections between the mother and baby homes, county homes, industrial schools and so on. I took the view that it was important to explore these connections. I note the comments relating to Mr. de Greiff, but the details were announced some time ago and I am disappointed that there has been no further progress. I look forward to hearing more on the matter.

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