Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to work with the recently formed Acknowledgement Forum in Northern Ireland to look into issues of alleged illegal adoptions of children from the south into families in the north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43898/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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An Investigation and Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse has been established by the Northern Ireland Executive. The Inquiry will include a confidential 'Acknowledgement Forum' in which victims and survivors can recount their childhood experiences of living in institutions to members of the Inquiry Panel.

The Inquiry is similar to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Ryan Report) which examined the wrongs inflicted on Irish children, who were placed by the State in residential institutions run by religious orders. My Department will assist the Inquiry as much as possible if required to do so.