Written answers

Wednesday, 24 January 2018

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the process undertaken by her Department to advertise outside of the State for witnesses to come forward to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3581/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore the advertising strategy is a matter for the Commission to decide and I do not have any role or influence in this regard.

The Commission previously informed me that it had written to a range of Irish groups in the UK and the USA inviting relevant people to come forward to provide testimony and information, and the Confidential Committee has visited the UK on a number of occasions.

As the Deputy will also be aware, the range of concerns relating to Mother and Baby Homes, and the establishment of the Commission of Investigation, continues to be widely reported by national and international media outlets.

While I do not have a direct role the Commission's advertising strategies, I am on record of this House as encouraging any person with information which may be relevant to the Commission to contact the investigation team directly. All relevant contact information is on my Department's website and can be accessed at www.dcya.gov.ie.

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has met with a group (details supplied); and her plans to meet the group regarding the expert technical report on Tuam. [3582/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I have met members of the group referred to by the Deputy and with other former residents of the Tuam mother and baby home during my visits to Tuam and in other fora.

With regard to the Expert Technical Group Report on the Tuam site, I published this Report to give us a fuller understanding of the available options in responding to the confirmation of human remains interred at this site, and to ensure that the outcomes which might be realistic and attainable in respect of each course of action could be understood by the public.

I am conscious that this is a very sensitive and difficult matter for many former residents, their families and those living in the vicinity of the site. Therefore, I want to ensure that everyone who wishes to contribute to the deliberations on what action should be taken has an equal opportunity to do so. Galway County Council is making arrangements to facilitate a structured consultation to determine the views of interested parties and I do not wish to interfere in any way with this process.

I am advised that the Council plans to announce further details of the consultation process shortly.  In the interim, the council has set up a dedicated telephone line (Tel: 091-509561) and e-mail address (TuamConsultation@galwaycoco.ie) for persons who may wish to contact the Council in relation to these matters.  

An Inter-Departmental Group, led by the Department of Children and Youth  Affairs, will provide an oversight role for the whole of Government in terms of strategy and overall approach for the project. The results of  the consultation process will be reported back to the Inter-Departmental  Group in March. The Group will then assist me in preparing a proposal for the future of the site which I will bring to Government for its consideration.

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to failures by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to correspond or reply to survivors living abroad that had contacted the Commission. [3583/18]

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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162. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason persons that have testified to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes have not been permitted access to that testimony along with their own personal records. [3586/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 162 together.

The statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) is independent in the conduct of its investigations. I do not have any role or influence in how the Commission engages with witnesses in the course of its investigations.

I am advised that the Commission’s policy is to keep all the evidence provided to it in secure storage on its premises. Individuals who have met the Confidential Committee may come to the Commission’s premises and hear the recording of their evidence and/or read the notes on their case if these have been written up. Individuals who give evidence to the full Commission may similarly read the transcript of their evidence on the Commission’s premises. If individuals provide personal records to the Commission, it is the policy to photocopy these and return the originals to the people concerned on the day. The Commission does not have any role in assisting individuals in resolving questions on their identity or in tracing birth relatives. Persons seeking such information should contact the Information and Tracing services of TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency (www.tusla.ie) or the Adoption Authority of Ireland (www.aai.gov.ie).

The Commission’s policy is to reply to all correspondence whether from Ireland or abroad. I know that the Commission would welcome being contacted again if it has inadvertently failed to reply to any individual. If the Deputy is aware of any specific cases she may wish to advise the person involved to contact the Commission directly in relation to these matters.

Photo of Denise MitchellDenise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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161. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there has been progress on her proposal to examine a transitional justice approach to deal with the legacy of mother and baby homes. [3585/18]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It is important to note that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes is a vital step on the path we have commenced to achieve a holistic truth. The Commission is continuing to do the valuable work it was established to do. 

In parallel to the Commission's work, it is my wish to adopt a transitional justice approach through developing measures to support and empower former residents of these institutions and their families. I am progressing a number of initiatives in this regard to facilitate an appropriate way forward in our response to what are hugely complex and sensitive matters.

In June and October of last year two facilitated meetings were held with former residents of Mother and Baby Homes. A key ask that emerged from these meetings was  that of “nothing about us without us”. My recent announcement of the establishment of a Collaborative Forum for former residents is a direct response to this wish by former residents.

The Forum will enable former residents to identify, discuss and prioritise the issues of concern to them, and facilitate them to make recommendations for actions and solutions. I published a Charter for the Collaborative Forum which describes its structure, scope and working methodology.

The Forum will examine specific themes on a modular basis to facilitate it in making recommendations to me. The Forum will explore a wide number of practical issues including: issues dealing with respectful and inclusive terminology and language; strategies to undo stigma and raise public awareness; identifying and sharing good practice in peer to peer support activities; access to professional counselling services and other specific health and personal social services; memorialisation which acknowledges and recognise past events; and documenting and presenting personal narratives of former residents and their relatives to ensure an archive of material is created and preserved. I will be making an announcement with further details on this Forum shortly.

In addition, the Government has agreed to invite Mr. Pablo de Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur, to assist Ireland in our response to issues related to former Mother and Baby homes and I am working with my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to arrange this invitation.

Improving communication with former residents continues to be a priority of mine as I believe that open and consistent communication on the matters of concern is essential while the Commission continues with the work that it was established to do. My Department has increased its focus on communication by establishing an e-zine update which is posted on the Mother and Babies Homes section of my Department's website on the first Friday of every month. In this way everyone has access to the same information at the same time.

My department has also established a dedicated phone line and email address to facilitate direct communications with my Department by interested parties.

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