Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have had some discussion of this matter before. It concerns a time in our country when women came through a very difficult period, when there was neither respect nor comfort for many. The topics I discussed with the Catholic Church were Northern Ireland; the safeguarding and welfare of children; education matters; protection of life during pregnancy; and I outlined our European Presidency priorities. In respect of Northern Ireland, Cardinal Brady and I expressed revulsion at the street violence taking place at the time and the potential damage to Northern Ireland’s reputation and economic prospects. We also discussed the positive engagement between the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, particularly through the North-South Ministerial Council. It was agreed at that time that the relevant Ministers and officials would continue to work together.

With the Church of Ireland I discussed education matters; the protection of life during pregnancy; issues relating to rural Ireland; Bethany Home; Northern Ireland; the elderly and child and family support issues, and I outlined our priorities for the European Presidency which was forthcoming. In respect of the delegation of European churches, we agreed on the social consequences of the economic crisis in Europe and on the particular seriousness of the level of youth unemployment in Europe. I emphasised to the churches that this would be assessed as a priority in our Presidency with its focus on jobs, stability and growth. I was happy that the Youth Guarantee came out of that focus, with the prompting of the Minister for Social Protection. The churches raised their concerns about the new proposals for data protection and how this might affect them. I undertook at the time to bring that to the attention of the Minister for Justice and Equality. They also stressed the importance of taxation policy in developing countries and argued for an extension of reporting requirements by multinational companies. Finally, the delegation underlined the importance of peace funding for reconciliation in Northern Ireland and I am glad that during our discussions with our European colleagues we were able to get some further funding for the Border region.

The Deputy mentioned Bethany Home, which he and other Deputies raised here. At the time the consideration was in respect of Magdalen laundries. Since the revelations about the mother and baby home in Tuam and the extent of what happened there, the Government committed to the establishment of a commission of investigation to examine these homes and that includes the Bethany Home. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs briefed the Government this morning on the interim report of the cross-departmental review committee which comprised senior officials from eight Departments and several State agencies and was asked to scope the issues relevant to a commission of investigation into mother and baby homes and to report to the Minister by the end of June.

Clearly, the Minister has highlighted at all times the need to be mindful in any public discussion of the very sensitive nature of the issues involved here. Many families and individuals have had personal experiences of mother and baby homes and other issues that have arisen, including infant and child death and adoption. I reiterate the call for sensitivity that has been expressed by the Minister. There should be no sensationalism in respect of these matters.

I can confirm for Deputy Adams that the Minister has held meetings with politicians on all sides of the House, a number of individuals outside the House, a number of advocacy groups and church leaders. He has thanked everyone for their views, initial reactions and proposals in this regard. More than 100 submissions have been received from a range of individuals and groups. I do not doubt they will be of assistance to the cross-departmental committee when it is finalising the terms of reference for the commission. I hope the Minister, Deputy Charles Flanagan, will bring his proposed terms of reference for a commission back to the Government as soon as possible in order we can get on with this. I will wait to see what the Minister proposes to the Government.

We have had a long and difficult history in many respects. The Minister has had discussions about several hundred other entities of one sort or another. It is probable that very few records, or no records at all, exist in many such cases. The Minister will bring his recommendations regarding the commission of investigation to the Government shortly. If one were to examine everything that has happened since the Famine, it is clear that one would find tragic histories in many homes, townlands, towns and cities throughout the country. Just this morning, someone reminded me of the tenements that used to be down the street from here. Two little girls lost their lives when an element of those tenements collapsed many years ago. I suppose the difficulties experienced by people in this city and other cities, and the hardships that were imposed on them, were endemic across many places. The Minister will come back quickly with his recommendations for this commission. I hope we will then be able to get on with the business of assessing and investigating what has emerged from all the discussions and proposals regarding the mother and baby homes, including the Bethany Home, in Tuam and throughout the country.

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