Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be back here again today to speak on the new revised terms of reference. I reiterate our support for the proposal to set up a commission of investigation into the events surrounding the Grace case. Yesterday I and Deputy John McGuinness attended a meeting with the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy McGrath, and new terms were agreed which addressed Deputy McGuinness's concerns. He felt the original terms did not go far enough and I am glad that he welcomes the new ones.

The new terms of reference are now clear that for the avoidance of doubt - there was doubt on the part of some - there is a need to cover all those who were living in the home in question and not only Grace. In addition, the terms of reference now give clearer recognition to the need to include the whistleblowers who brought these allegations into the public domain. The chair of the commission of investigation has confirmed she is satisfied that the revised terms provide her with the flexibility to investigate this case satisfactorily. The amended terms of reference prevent any misinterpretation and now explicitly and clearly state that when the investigation into Grace is completed, the commission will set out what further action it will take on the other cases. This was always the intention of the commission of inquiry as it has to take into consideration all reports done previously.

As I said on Tuesday night, it therefore seems unimaginable that in light of what we already know, there would not be further inquiries undertaken. While I do not believe the original terms would ultimately have excluded anything, and nothing was actually ruled out, the new terms provide some more definition, and that is welcome. As I said the other night, the details so far about other cases may not be on the same spectrum of horror as that of Grace but the concern about them is justified and legitimate. The amended terms of reference still put Grace's case front and centre and I believe there is an urgent need to complete the inquiry on Grace first.

There is a real urgency about this matter now and I want to see the commission up and running straight away. I hope to see an interim report next September and I hope too we will be discussing its report on Grace this time next year. What is important now is that the Commission gets on with its work, does it as thoroughly and efficiently as possible and provides the answers that this House, the public, Grace, her mother and the others who lived in that the foster home deserve.

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