Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The collaborative forum of survivors from the mother and baby homes was established by the then Minister, Katherine Zappone, in July 2018, primarily to act as a consultation and engagement group for the mother and baby home issue. Recent weeks have been very difficult for the group. It was not consulted at all during the preparation of the mother and baby home legislation. It has written to all Members of the Dáil today to express its frustration and anger at that. Survivors have said that they feel that trust has completely broken down with officials. They say that someone in the office of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, pointed them to Twitter to find out what was happening with that legislation. I certainly feel that is unacceptable. Does the Taoiseach accept there were major failings when it came to consultation on that legislation with the survivor groups? They have also asked for the forum to be reconvened. Will the Taoiseach ensure that forum is reconvened as soon as possible?

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