Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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25. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to advertise the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation in the United States of America in view of the acknowledgement of 2,000 children that went to the United States for adoption between the 1940s and 1970s (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8868/18]

Katherine 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. The approach to publicising its work and seeking persons with potentially relevant information to come forward are matters for the Commission to decide. 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, issues relating to the experiences of mothers and children in these institutions, and the on-going investigations of the Commission, continue 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 .