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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 13 together.

I thank Deputies Rabbitte and Maureen O'Sullivan for their questions. I know they are very interested in the work of the commission of investigation and supportive of former residents. Deputies will be aware that the commission of investigation is independent in the conduct of its statutory investigations. For this reason, I am not in a position to provide detailed progress updates on its work. Any available updates will be posted by the commission directly to its website.

The commission of investigation has prepared three interim reports to date, in July 2016, September 2016 and September 2017. I published all three reports and the commission is continuing with its work under the leadership of Judge Yvonne Murphy, Dr. William Duncan and Professor Mary Daly. It is open to the commission to provide interim reports at intervals of its choosing, although there is no specific requirement for it to do so. Should the commission provide further interim reports, I will similarly make these available as soon as possible after their consideration by the Government.

The commission confirmed the tragic discovery of juvenile remains interred on the site of the former home in Tuam in February 2017. A number of technical and legal reports have been examined by the interdepartmental group working to assist the Government in identifying an appropriate course of action in respect of the site. This work is at an advanced stage and I will bring my recommendations to the Government in the coming weeks. I visited Tuam again in July to meet former residents, their families and local residents. I was privileged to have been able to hear their views and concerns on this most sensitive matter directly. While there, I also visited the former site of the home.

At the commission's request, the Government agreed to extend its timeline for reporting to February 2019. I am satisfied that the commission is effectively using this additional time to listen to the personal experiences of former residents and to ensure crucial questions can be fully addressed. I know that many former residents are eagerly awaiting the completion of this work and I can assure them of a comprehensive Government response to the findings of the commission. In the interim, I have initiated a number of processes to complement the commission's work. The principals of transitional justice inform my approach to these measures. In this regard, I am working with my colleagues in government, and in collaboration with former residents, to advance solutions to the issues that have already emerged from the work of the commission. I believe this is the best way forward in our response to what are hugely complex and sensitive matters. I have established an inclusive and representative collaborative forum so that former residents of these institutions can directly engage on the issues of concern to them and their families. I was happy to meet with the forum at its first meeting in July. I understand that it has made further progress by establishing sub-committees at its second meeting earlier this month. I have requested an initial report within six months and I await the outcomes of their deliberations.

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