Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a party, we welcome the establishment of this independent commission. I acknowledge and thank the Minister for briefing and consulting us, as members of the Opposition. I got the Minister's invitation and will respond to it today.

I ask the number of submissions the Minister got from advocacy groups and the NGO sector. Has the Minister received many submissions from them and has he engaged with and consulted the groups which represent those who suffered in this issue? It is important that this sensitive issue be progressed in a non-partisan manner, and the Minister is doing so thus far.

On the specific question of funding, has the Minister secured or will he be able to secure additional funding to ensure that the investigation into legacy issues will not impact and infringe on vulnerable children of today who need the resources of the Department?

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