Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy McDonald raised a number of key issues in terms of memorialisation. There has been considerable engagement with survivors and former residents. Memorialisation is considered a very important part of the healing process for those affected and the State should progress the national memorial records centre. The Secretary General has chaired that group and funding has been secured. I intend to bring a memo to Government in the coming weeks in respect of this, with an overarching vision and a proposed approach for the creation of a national centre.

There will be other aspects to that as well. I hope to have further details for the House in relation to that. It will be a significant investment but it has to be done right as well, obviously in consultation with all involved. That work has been progressing and it is fairly advanced. We intend to bring that to Government.

In respect of the report of the rapporteur, there is a significant process involved in the redress scheme. The Minister went beyond the recommendations of the commission. There was an interdepartmental group. The Minister went beyond that also in recommending to Government that we extend the range of the redress scheme.

In respect of children who were boarded out, that is very challenging. The Minister is looking at further means of trying to develop a better analysis in respect of children who were boarded out because it was not really central to the commission's report. It is also a more challenging area in terms of records and so on. It is a piece of work the Minister is looking at.

The redress legislation is before the House. The Minister is engaging with Members and will continue to do that. The redress scheme is extensive and is allied to all of the other initiatives that were taken. The Minister will engage with the House and Members as the legislation goes through in respect of it.

On the Stardust inquiry, there had been a venue, as Deputy Cian O'Callaghan will be aware. It was through no fault of the Minister for Justice that it fell through. I think it was in the RDS. Every effort is being made to secure premises as quickly as we possibly can. I will come back to the Deputy in respect of the Juries Act.

Deputy Calleary spoke of-----

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