Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the terms of reference of the commission of investigation into the mother and baby homes. I understand from our spokesperson that the Minister for Justice and Equality is bringing them to completion, but she said in June that it was expected that they would be before the House prior to the summer recess. That did not happen. We need an opportunity to debate these serious issues. Will the terms of reference include county homes, the Westbank Orphanage, some of the Protestant institutions and the Magdalen Laundries? There is an indication that others will be appointed to the commission. When can we expect to know who they might be?

The same sex marriage and presidential election referendums deal with important issues relating to fundamental human rights, on which the Constitutional Convention took a progressive stance. The Minister of State with responsibility for the Diaspora is reported as having told an Irish-American audience that the date for the referendums would be set before Christmas. When will the referendum on same sex marriage be held? When will the referendum to lower the age to vote in and extend voting rights to presidential elections be held?

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