Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I can describe it as independent because it is independent. It is an independent review mechanism carried out by independent lawyers who are given access to the data they require and to the material submitted by the complainants. In more than 200 cases extra material has been given by the complainants. The material has been assessed and a recommendation has been made. The summary of this recommendation which came to me was overseen by a judge. I call this independent. I have accepted the recommendations in all the cases.

It is not a statutory investigation. It is not a commission of investigation. It was never intended to be a commission of investigation. It is an assessment of complaints, many of which go back 30, 20 and ten years, and some are more recent. They have been through a variety of assessments by gardaí, the District Court, the Circuit Courts right up to the Supreme Court. They have examined the papers to see if they can recommend any particular further action to me in my role as Minister which would help the complainants and bring closure for them, because obviously many of these cases involve appalling events for the families concerned. If there is any further action I can take to help them based on the recommendations I receive from the independent review mechanism, I will do that.

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