Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On the interdepartmental committee looking at the issue of the mother and baby homes, there were revelations on the mother and baby home in Tuam and subsequently on Bessborough in Cork. That would be personally known to a lot of us who have been involved in the issue over a long period of time, but not to the wider Irish public. The interdepartmental group pulled together in a very short period of time before the summer recess all of the available data and ensured it will be available as necessary to put into the public domain. Having been involved in the issue over a long period and having studied it, I consider that report to have been extremely useful. It sets out some of the facts and figures which some people in Irish society knew but which many, particularly almost everyone under 40 unless he or she is adopted, would not necessarily have been aware of. It has been very helpful.

I am very happy the Government has agreed to the commission of inquiry. It is an enormous step forward. We are dealing with legacy issues from the hidden Ireland of long ago. Many of those who are affected personally and deeply by this in terms of the whole of their lives are of advanced age and it is important that we address all of the outstanding issues. We will not be able to do that all at once. A well-recommended judge, Judge Yvonne Murphy, whose extensive experience of working in this area over the last decade and more is familiar to those who know the area, has been appointed. The terms of reference are being worked on.

I understand and accept the Deputy's two anxieties. The first is that this should proceed reasonably on a timeline that does not lag for too long. While I accept that, it is important to get the terms of reference right. The second is that a series of issues have been identified as we know from the information from the advocacy groups. It is important that we provide in the terms of reference an opportunity for all of those important issues to be inquired into in an orderly fashion within a reasonable time. Some of the issues are important to small groups of people while others are of much wider social significance. I expect the terms of reference will be available in the near future. I cannot provide an exact date, but I am much more anxious to get this right than simply to rush it. That is my instinct having been involved in this for many years and having known a huge number of people personally affected by it. That is my view.

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