Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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1018. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be published in June 2020; and if she will apologise to the survivors of the mother and baby homes for the previous delays in publishing the report. [9024/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters is due to submit its final report to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs on the 26 June 2020. When a Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural matters which must be addressed before the relevant Minister would be in a position to seek the approval of Government to publish the report. For this reason there will always be an interval between receipt of such reports and arrangements for their publication.

Today, Judge Murphy has submitted a communication to me with an update in relation to the Commission's progress. I will need to consider this communication and engage with my Cabinet colleagues as appropriate.

On the second part of your question, the Commission has previously requested the Government to extend the timeframe for delivery of its final report on three separate occasions. In agreeing to these extensions the Government’s priority has been to facilitate the independent Commission to address the crucial questions and conclude its investigations as expeditiously as possible in accordance with the legislative framework.

I know that many former residents and their families have been disappointed and frustrated by the time taken to complete this sensitive work even though they recognise the complexity of the task. I have publicly expressed my support and understanding of their views in this regard. When considering the timeframe involved it is essential to acknowledge the significant scale of the task.  It is not a singular task. The investigation includes multiple lines of inquiry examining the operation of quite different institutions over a period of more than three quarters of a century. In its work the Commission has engaged with hundreds of former residents and sought to comprehensively collate and analyse information at a level beyond what was ever possible before.

In this way the Commission’s work provides a unique opportunity to significantly enhance our national understanding of the difficult experiences endured by mothers and children in these institutions.  I share the wish of all interested parties to see the Commission conclude its work as quickly as possible.