Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Very strong progress is being made in relation to the establishment of the commission of investigation on the mother and baby homes and the development of its terms of reference, which are complex and lengthy. The Attorney General advises that the commission's terms of reference will be a critical factor in determining its ambit, length, complexity, cost and, ultimately, success. I am happy to tell the Deputy that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has prepared draft terms of reference which it has now circulated to the relevant Departments. The draft will be revised following feedback from relevant Departments and referred to the Attorney General as soon as possible. I understand the Minister is in close contact with various interested groups and parties including as required and as interested the Members of the Opposition.

The work on adoption information and tracing will be carried out in parallel with the work of the commission. I have said that before. It is intended to refer a general scheme and heads of an adoption information and tracing Bill to the Joint Committee on Health and Children for its consideration during the current Dáil session. As the Deputy knows, there is a range of views on this very important area. As I have recorded, I hope to see Ireland having an adoption and tracing system as many other countries have had over a long period of time.

I ask the Deputy to be more specific in relation to his question on a criminal justice Bill as there is a series of criminal justice Bills in preparation. Can the Deputy outline which element of those Bills he refers to?

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