Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Commission of Investigation into mother and baby homes was established on 17 February 2015 and is due to report by 17 February 2018. The primary function of the commission is to provide a factual account of what happened to vulnerable women and children in these institutions during the period 1922-98, a 76-year period. The commission will thoroughly examine the experience of residents in fourteen named mother and baby homes and a representative sample of county homes. The commission is required to address specific concerns relating to the care, welfare, entry arrangements and exit pathways for the women and children who were residents of these institutions. It is my hope that this commission will help us all come to a better understanding of how society treated mothers and children in these homes and how attitudes, policy and legislation changed over the period.

There have been various calls to extend the commission's terms of reference. However, it is important to note that the commission itself can, under its existing terms of reference, bring any matters to the Government's attention where it believes this to be warranted in the public interest. As an independent statutory inquiry, the commission has scope to examine a broad range of public concerns, to decide on their importance to the commission's work and to make recommendations on them as it sees fit.

I recently met with the chair of the commission to discuss progress on the work to date and I will report back to Government next week. Out of courtesy to former residents, I want to inform representative groups of developments before making any public announcement. I hope to do this next week after I have reported to my Government colleagues.

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