Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 March 2017

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

5:10 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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20. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish the second interim report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes; if she in conjunction with her Government colleagues is considering the establishment of a redress scheme for survivors; if in the meantime there is a contact point for information and support for those whose lives have been affected by mother and baby homes and other institutions in which unmarried mothers gave birth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15423/17]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In her speech on 9 March last the Minister indicated that she would publish the second interim report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes by the end of the month, which is this Friday. Is there a proposal to establish a redress scheme and information for people who may have been very disturbed by the fact that they may have a personal connection with a mother and baby home?

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for her question and am very conscious that it has not been possible to publish the second interim report so far. This is for very good reasons and I can assure the House that I have no wish whatsoever to delay it unnecessarily. I want to publish this report as soon as possible and I briefed the Cabinet on the matter again this morning. I expect to be able to clarify the timeframe for completion of the Government's deliberative process within the coming week.

As I have previously outlined, given the wide remit of the commission's work, it has been necessary for me to engage with Cabinet colleagues on issues in the report which extend beyond my remit as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. I acknowledge that the process has taken longer than I initially envisaged. I am very sensitive to the expectations of former residents and their advocates who want to see the contents of the report.

I do not believe it would be helpful today to respond to media speculation on the contents of the report in advance of the full report being made public. Publishing the report has been the focus of my approach since I received it from the commission. It is open to the commission to recommend any remedies it deems appropriate in light of the findings of its final reports.

My Department will contact representative groups to advise of developments in this regard prior to any public announcement.

I can assure Deputies that the time being taken by Government to consider this interim report is not hindering progress in the commission's ongoing investigations.

My Department has an information line in operation to provide factual information in regard to the commission's remit and its reports to date. This line is open during office hours and relevant details are available on my Department's website. There is also a telephone line available for people seeking details of the support available to those affected by these issues.

5:20 pm

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I thank the Minister for the last part of her reply regarding available information and telephone lines.

I am very concerned that the timeline for publication will not be met. The Minister said in the Dáil that she would be publishing the second interim report of the commission by the end of this month. The Minister's answer indicates that will not be the case. The report has been with the Minister for eight months, since 27 July. Reading between the lines, there appears to be something in the recommendations that the Government is not keen to implement, such as a proposal for a redress scheme or similar. I may be wrong about that.

I urge the Minister to publish the interim report. There are many people whose lives have been turned upside down by the information that came out in Tuam and who are very concerned.

I also ask the Minister about the scoping exercise that she said she would carry out regarding the expansion of the terms of reference of the commission of investigation.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I know exactly what I said in the Dáil. It is a great disappointment to me that I will not be able to deliver on that by the end of this month. The extension is due to the time required to respond to some of the report's recommendations in a different way than perhaps has been done in the past. This has proven extremely challenging.

I am very happy to say that there is significant engagement across Government Department to find that way. I am having more meetings this week.As I said before, I hope I will soon be able to indicate when I will be ready.

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In the interests of transparency and public knowledge, would the Minister consider publishing the report even if she has not got the full Government response? People are entitled to see what is in the report. The Minister could explain that it is possible to respond to certain areas but that a response has not yet been formulated in regard to other areas. I think that would be the right thing to do. I ask the Minister to consider that.

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I am being transparent in terms of the process. I appreciate that people would like to see it as soon as possible. I understand that as well as anyone in this Chamber because of the work that I have been doing on that report in regard to a number of survivors and advocates. It has probably taken more of my time in the past couple of months than anything else in the Department. In my discernment, I have decided it is more helpful if the Government can have a little more time to formulate a plan for responding to the recommendations of the commission. I appreciate that Deputy Jan O'Sullivan may disagree but that is my discernment.