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

-----are reported that may or may not have happened. I accept and hear what the Deputy is saying, but I just do not have any comment on that. I wish to say very clearly that in terms of the Government's response, it does not mean we have closed off redress for those who have been in mother and baby homes. When the commission finishes its investigations, social history and confidential committee of hearing evidence and makes recommendation to Government, it is then we will have the opportunity to consider redress for those people in those institutions, irrespective of whether that is a part of the recommendations. It is at that stage the commission will have the opportunity to identify whether there are any findings of abuse in the formal process that has been put in place.

I hear what Deputy Daly is saying about the extension of the terms of reference. I committed to looking at that and I am doing so. Deputy Daly talked about listening to survivors, or residents. Some of the people with whom I have spoken to prefer to call themselves residents as distinct from survivors. The Deputy said that what they want is an apology. I spoke with a survivor or resident yesterday who does not want an apology. Instead, what she wants is the Head of State to ask for their forgiveness. She sees that as different from an apology. Therefore, I understand that there are lots of different issues that people are seeking to be addressed. Part of the reason for establishing an approach to take a look at the wider ways of listening to what people want, which is part of what is transitional justice, is because of that diversity and the importance of trying to identify it.

In response to Deputy Connolly, I listened very carefully in terms of the meetings on Tuam that were requested. I have received many submissions and have already written letters that are being sent back on how we will progress the different issues that arose. As the Deputy knows, one of the aspects specifically has to do with access to information. That is something about which I spoke in my response to the interim report.

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