Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that response. It would be good if there was some way of retrospectively dealing with it because there has obviously been a severing of relationships with some staff and their employers.

While I have the Minister here, I will mention a separate matter because it is of real urgency. I refer to the destruction of the 550 files, that is, the testimonials from the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation and the fact that the commission will be wrapped up on 28 February. We must investigate and see how those files were destroyed. We must ask why survivors did not give their consent for those files to be destroyed and ascertain how it was allowed to happen.

Will the Minister extend the remit and time period for the commission rather than it finishing up on 28 February? We need it to hand over the documentation it has in its possession on 28 February, as per the legislation brought in by the Minister in October. We need the commission to remain in operation for another year to enable survivors' questions to be asked and answered regarding the documentation.

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