Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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110. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent of the Garda enquiries into the Tuam mother and baby home scandal; and the reason a full-scale Garda investigation was not undertaken. [12234/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that I have no role in the initiation of criminal investigations, which is a matter for the Garda authorities. I understand that the Garda authorities have carried out general local enquiries, including with respect to the reported discovery of remains in the 1970s, and this information was fed back into the interdepartmental process which was undertaken to examine how these complex and tragic circumstances can best be addressed.

Arising from that process, the Deputy will be aware that in February my colleague the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, announced the establishment of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters. The Commission will cover the period 1922 to 1998 and provides an effective and transparent mechanism to examine these complex and sensitive matters while also respecting fair procedures and natural justice. I am assured that An Garda Síochána will cooperate fully with the Commission and any criminal matters which may arise will be properly investigated.