Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and acknowledge the enormous amount of work he has done in this area. The topic of my Commencement matter relates to the Institutional Burials Act 2022. The Minister will be aware that this Act provides a lawful basis for the excavation, exhumation and identification of remains, and their dignified reburial, from the site of the former mother and baby institutions in Tuam in County Galway, and at any site where intervention is required to address manifestly inappropriate burials.

A full exhumation of the bodies of children buried on the grounds of the Tuam mother and baby home in County Galway is expected to begin soon. I understand this will be some time after March. Will the Minister enlighten us as to when that will take place? I also understand that a director of authorised intervention is to be appointed by the Government to oversee the excavations of the site in Tuam, where up to 800 children are buried in unmarked plots. We do not really know the exact number; it is suggested it is approximately 800. It is an issue of major concern, both to the people related to those families, but also to the community itself.

I want to pay tribute to those who exposed the wrongdoings at the Tuam mother and baby home in County Galway and who, in effect, gave voice to those who were silenced. That is an important point to make. Will the Minister share how the director will oversee the phased excavation, recovery, analysis and reburial of the remains and also the forensic standards that will be applied during all this process? Can the Minister also please confirm the process for the identification programme? Where will the human remains be interred on exhumation and during their analysis? It is an important point about which the people involved in this situation want to know.

What are the plans for the Tuam site thereafter? There may be no plan but if the Minister can confirm that one way or another because that is a question that is being asked. How will people be prepared for this really major project that will take place in their community? It will reopen ground; the pain and the stories will reopen wounds, hurts, disappointments and even anger. I understand all of those emotions.

This is a major event for Tuam and we need to prepare all the various people involved for this major piece of forensic work of removing these bodies. Most important, how will we interface and support the relatives and families who were affected by this terrible case? These are real concerns as we draw near the eventual project of excavation. This excavation was promised by the Minister who joined with the people and is delivering on that promise. I acknowledge that. If I say one thing, it is important that we prepare because this is really going to open up so many mixed emotions and hurts. Now that we know we are going into this next phase for Tuam, it is important we address that issue.