Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Cairns is correct about the comprehensive nature of Professor O'Mahony's discussion of the issue of inquiry. He very clearly took task with the commission of investigation model, and we all agree it did not deliver what survivors of institutions were seeking. Deputy Tully spoke about accountability. One of the key issues with a truth commission is that it requires people to come forward on a non-statutory basis. As a result, what everybody seeks to achieve from an inquiry may not be delivered from a truth commission model as opposed to a commission of inquiry model, although we have already seen how the commission of inquiry model does not deliver either.

Considering how to go forward in a way that delivers for the desires of survivors is important, and it is why we cannot just immediately say that we are following this course of action. This requires consideration. The completion of major work like the Birth Information and Tracing Bill 2022 is so important in addressing other elements of Professor O'Mahony's report and providing people who have suspicions that they were subject to illegal birth registration with confirmation either way.

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