Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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189. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the membership, names and qualifications of the selection panel for the collaborative forum in relation to the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8920/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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As I advised the House last week, I am in the process of setting up the Selection Panel to oversee the independent selection of representatives to a Collaborative Forum of former residents of mother and baby homes and related institutions.

The establishment of the Collaborative Forum is a new approach in the State’s response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my consultations with former residents and their advocates.  This innovative approach will facilitate and empower former residents to actively contribute to decisions on matters of concern to them and their families.

I have published a Charter for the Forum which sets out the general functions of the Forum; provides a blueprint for its programme of work, and details key principles in the methodology and approach to be adopted in this important work.

The establishment of an effective selection process is essential to the successful commencement of this project. For this reason I have identified some key persons and organisations from the areas of human rights promotion and protection, former residents and their advocacy groups, and academics with professional experience in relevant areas.

My Department has made the necessary contacts and I am awaiting confirmation of a response from a number of those approached to assist in this process.

I hope to be in a position to announce more details of the selection panel by next week.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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190. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the orders of discovery have been wholly complied with by the religious congregations that are the subject of those orders further to the third interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, section 2.12. [8922/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters is independent in the conduct of its investigations.

The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Commission and I have no further information or role in this regard.