Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies who have contributed to the debate. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and I appreciate the co-operation that has been given by the House on this very sensitive matter. These sensitivities are foremost in the minds of Members who are deeply aware that there are people in Ireland who continue to live with the reality of the issues discussed. There is a need to be mindful of their circumstances and ensure public commentary does not add to any distress they might feel.

We have noted the contributions of all Deputies and the issues they have highlighted which have been brought into the public domain by the events in Tuam. I am sure that all in the House will agree that the many issues raised are problematic and deeply troubling. I emphasise the Government's commitment to getting this right. Deputy Robert Troy stated last night that there was never a right time to do the wrong thing. The Government is convinced that this is the time to do the right thing by the women and children whose lives were shaped by the events that took place in the last century in Ireland's mother and baby homes. However, we must be realistic in our approach. There is a need to establish the facts. It must be borne in mind that they may be hard to unearth and deeply unpalatable for many.

I am pleased that the debate of the last two days in the Chamber has shed light on the level of complicity of all strands of Irish life in what was happening in mother and baby homes and the degree to which society turned a blind eye and allowed others to deal with issues it had simply decided to ignore. I ask those who have survived time in these institutions to be aware of the national contact preference register operated by the Adoption Authority. There, in the strictest confidence and with the utmost sympathy, efforts can be made to address the issue of giving an identity to the many children affected by their births in mother and baby homes.

As he stated last night, the Minister intends to drive this process forward and ensure the commission of investigation will get under way in a timely manner. The appropriate terms of reference and a suitable expert membership will be developed for the commission of investigation. In developing the terms of reference consideration will be given by the interdepartmental group, in the first instance, to all of the matters to which Deputies have referred, including the institutions to be included in the review, infant mortality rates, the links between mother and baby homes and other institutions, adoptions from these facilities, illegal registrations, informal care arrangements such as boarding out, vaccines and medical issues, forced labour, institutional abuse, children being sent to the United States of America, the need for the living history of those affected by this issue to be acknowledged and recorded and the need for a proper resting place and memorial for those children who died in mother and baby homes. The group will consider all of these issues when making recommendations to the Government.

I again thank all Deputies who have approached the matter with the utmost sensitivity and understanding and look forward to continuing engagement across the House in finalising arrangements for the commission of investigation.

9 o’clock

This Government is doing the right thing in trying to establish the truth of a dark chapter in our history and, in doing so, honouring the memory of those who are no longer with us and offering solace and support to those who are.

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