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

I am grateful for the opportunity to bring this motion before the Seanad. The motion was taken and approved by the Dáil last week. This motion is before the House following approval by the Government on 27 July 2022 of my proposal to establish an independent office to lead an intervention at the site of the former mother and baby institution in Tuam. The proposal was made following the signing into law of the Institutional Burials Act 2022 earlier that month. The Act, which provides the underlying legislative basis for the intervention, allows the Government by order to direct an intervention at a site where manifestly inappropriate burials of people who died in residential institutions have taken place.An order can be made when the criteria in the legislation are met and where a resolution approving the draft order has been passed by each House of the Oireachtas.

The draft order for approval today directs me, as Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, to establish an office of director of authorised intervention, Tuam. It sets out the functions to be performed by the director and the land in respect of which the director may perform those functions. The functions assigned to the director provide for the director to oversee a phased forensic-standard excavation, recovery, analysis and reinterment of remains across the full available site in Tuam. The order also provides that the director will carry out an identification programme as an additional function for this intervention.

The situation uncovered in Tuam is truly horrifying. It has shocked people across the country and, indeed, around the world. The interment of children's remains at the site is clearly manifestly inappropriate and the statement of reasons for making the order, which has also been laid before the Houses, sets out how the site meets the requirements in terms of the legislation.

As I have said before, what happened in Tuam is a stain on our national conscience. It is incumbent on us to address the situation as soon as possible now that the necessary legislation is in place and I am grateful for the early opportunity to bring the motion before both Houses.

Subject to the House's approval of the draft order today, and the completion of environmental screening requirements for the site, the Government can make the order and the office can be established. I am committed to appointing a director and starting the excavation at the earliest opportunity. In order to ensure that work can start promptly, preparatory works have already commenced by my Department. Environmental screening of the site is currently under way. My officials have been seeking sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and liaising with the Public Appointments Service on the recruitment process for a director. Officials are also engaging with the Office of Public Works regarding sourcing a suitable premises for the new office. Preparations are also under way for the appointment of an advisory board to support and guide the director in his or her role.

It is anticipated that the recruitment of a director will take a number of weeks. Once appointed, the director will then need to engage a range of appropriately qualified experts to undertake the excavation, recovery and post-recovery analysis process. Engineering works and the construction of on-site facilities will also be required in advance of excavation of the site, which is expected can begin in early 2023. I commend this motion to the House.