Séamus Healy (Tipperary, Workers and Unemployed Action Group)
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383. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the invitation to Mr. Pablo De Greiff, UN Special Rapporteur, was extended to provide international human rights oversight of the Government's response to issues regarding the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18834/18]

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an invitation has been issued to a person (details supplied) to visit Ireland to assist in issues related to former Mother and Baby Homes; if so, when he is expected to arrive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18883/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 385 together.

Notwithstanding Ireland’s standing invitation to all United Nations thematic special procedures holders, I received Government approval for a specific invitation to be extended to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-recurrence to visit Ireland in the context of our response to the issue of mother and baby homes and related matters.

The Deputy may be aware that Mr. Fabian Salvioli has recently replaced Mr. Pablo de Grieff in that position, and the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade issued a formal invitation on behalf of the Irish Government to Mr. Fabian Salvioli on the 18 April. I understand that the Special Rapporteur will have many demands on his time but I hope that he may be in a position to provide a favourable response to this invitation.

The Government believes that the expertise and experience of Mr. Fabian Salvioli can provide valuable assistance in our response to the issues relating to mother and baby homes. A visit from the UN Special Rapporteur could also provide vital insight into the relationship between international human rights standards and the everyday lives of Ireland’s citizens.

Separately, the Deputy may also wish to note that I will be meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children in the course of her upcoming visit to Ireland from 14th to 21st of May.

I have a keen interest and focus on the mandate of the Rapporteur which covers a broad scope of children's issues. These include the sexual exploitation of children online; sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism; child prostitution, child pornography and child trafficking for sale and sexual exploitation; and sale of children for the purpose of illegal adoption, transfer of organs, child marriage and forced labour.

I understand that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has also agreed to meet with the Special Rapporteur while she is here.

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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384. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of survivors that have given evidence to the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes to date; the number in this regard that were referred to counselling services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18881/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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With regard to the statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters), it is firstly important to recognise that the Commission is independent in the conduct of its investigations.

I am conscious that revisiting difficult personal experiences when giving testimony to a Commission would be distressing for those involved. I know that some people may need to access various supports around this time and I have previously advised any persons so affected to consider contacting the Health Service Executive National Counselling Service.

With regard to the Commission of Investigation, it is important to recognise that the statutory Commission is independent in the conduct of its investigations. Therefore, the individual arrangements with witnesses are a matter for the Commission and I have no role in this regard.

I am aware that the Commission does ask former residents attending as witnesses if they have access to supports and whether they would like information on available services. I understand that, if they so wish, this information is provided by the Commission but it does not make referrals to these services.

In relation to the number of former residents who have given evidence to the Commission, I do not have this information for the reasons outlined above. However, the Commission's Third Interim Report, which I have published, states that as of September 2017, the confidential committee had met with 346 former residents or others with connections to the institutions under investigation, and expected to engage with a further 200 persons who had applied to meet the committee.