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

I thank the Deputy for her question and am very conscious that it has not been possible to publish the second interim report so far. This is for very good reasons and I can assure the House that I have no wish whatsoever to delay it unnecessarily. I want to publish this report as soon as possible and I briefed the Cabinet on the matter again this morning. I expect to be able to clarify the timeframe for completion of the Government's deliberative process within the coming week.

As I have previously outlined, given the wide remit of the commission's work, it has been necessary for me to engage with Cabinet colleagues on issues in the report which extend beyond my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I acknowledge that the process has taken longer than I initially envisaged. I am very sensitive to the expectations of former residents and their advocates who want to see the contents of the report.

I do not believe it would be helpful today to respond to media speculation on the contents of the report in advance of the full report being made public. Publishing the report has been the focus of my approach since I received it from the commission. It is open to the commission to recommend any remedies it deems appropriate in light of the findings of its final reports.

My Department will contact representative groups to advise of developments in this regard prior to any public announcement.

I can assure Deputies that the time being taken by Government to consider this interim report is not hindering progress in the commission's ongoing investigations.

My Department has an information line in operation to provide factual information in regard to the commission's remit and its reports to date. This line is open during office hours and relevant details are available on my Department's website. There is also a telephone line available for people seeking details of the support available to those affected by these issues.

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