Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am anxious to ensure that we establish the truth and the historic context of mother and baby homes. We will do so without losing sight of the responsibility that my Department and this House bear for the children of today. Over the past couple of weeks, as well as holding several constructive engagements with Deputy Ó Caoláin and his party colleague, Deputy McLellan, I have also met representatives of a number of key advocacy groups and church leaders, including Adoption Rights Alliance, First Mothers Group, Bethany Homes Survivors Group, Cúnamh, Adoption Loss and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. I also hope to meet with Archbishop Jackson at his earliest opportunity. The submissions made to me in the course of these constructive discussions, together with those received through my Department’s dedicated e-mail facility - I have received in excess of 100 written submissions - will feed into the process. I am confident that this inclusive approach in the essential scoping phase will assist in establishing an inquiry which is capable of effectively addressing these important matters in a sensitive and timely manner.

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