Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom tacaíocht a thabhairt don mhéid atá ráite go dtí seo maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs na hagóide atá ar súil taobh amuigh de Teach Laighean inniu. Tá an géarchéim tithíochta ag dul ó smacht ar fad. I concur with the thoughts expressed by Senators on the issue of housing. I commend those who organised the protest that is taking place outside Leinster House today. The nature of that protest is also commendable. Those involved are raising the issue in a positive way rather than doing so in another manner.

I am very concerned about reports in the media today about leaks of confidential information relating to the mother and baby home in Tuam. It is disgraceful and appalling that information about DNA sampling of human remains was leaked to newspapers and other media before the Minister, Deputy Zappone, had an opportunity to discuss it with survivors. I note that the Minister has apologised for this and has called on the Taoiseach to sanction an investigation into it. While I agree that there is an absolute need for an investigation, I do not think it should be allowed to drag on. I know from my contacts with survivors of these institutions that they are very frustrated about the slow pace at which the investigation is moving. We now have a delay of another year in the investigation. Many of these people are elderly or are not in the greatest of health. We have called on a number of occasions for a debate on this issue with the Minister, Deputy Zappone. I think it is more important than ever for such a debate to be arranged. When she comes to the House early in the new year, she might bring with her the Department of the Taoiseach report on who leaked this information. How did it come to be leaked in such an insensitive way?

It is appalling that the survivors have had to hear about things like this through the media. We need a debate on this matter because it needs to be kept at the top of the agenda. I am aware that, correctly or incorrectly, there is a sense among survivors of similar scandals, such as the symphysiotomy scandal, that these matters tend to be kicked to touch. We do not want to see the can being kicked down the road while people get older and pass on. Justice must be seen to be done in the case of the mother and baby homes. A debate on this issue is important in the interests of getting clarity on it. Perhaps the Leader could give us an update from the Minister, Deputy Zappone, tomorrow. Is this investigation going to happen through the Department of the Taoiseach? Who is going to do it? Has any further information come to light regarding the circumstances in which this sensitive information came to be leaked in such an appalling manner?