Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. Fianna Fáil and I welcomed the commission on the mother and baby homes when established. We recognise the vital importance of the commission in delivering justice and accountability for all those affected by mother and baby homes in Ireland. The third interim report of the commission on mother and baby homes requested an extension of the deadline for its report on its finding on the institution being investigated. As rightly said by the Minister, the deadline has been extended to February 2019. I am glad the Minister has met with the commission. She has been very supportive of former residents of the mother and baby homes, and their families, in Tuam but they are incredibly frustrated at this point. This is a very sensitive matter. During the Pope's visit, they held a silent protest in Tuam in recognition of the hurt of the past. They need supports.

The Minister referenced transitional justice and counselling services provision. People who are trying to avail of these counselling services are experiencing difficulty accessing the financial support to enable them to do so. I know that the Minister is aware of this. Former residents of the mother and baby home in Tuam want to know the status of the report, if additional information will be released prior to the publication of the report, if we are on target in respect of the final report, and the Minister's intentions regarding the treatment of the remains found at Tuam.

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