Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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55. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the final report of the commission of investigation into mother and baby homes will be published in view of the fact the report for survivors has been delayed several times. [22321/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am acutely aware of the importance of this Commission of Investigation and how much this report is anticipated by former residents and their families.

As the Deputy may know, the Commission's final report is due to be submitted to me on 30 October 2020 at the latest.

However, it is important to understand that when the Commission submits its final report there are a number of procedural matters which must be addressed before I can seek the approval of Government to publish it.

This will necessitate engagement with the Attorney General as the Government's legal advisor. Consequently, there will always be a time interval between receipt of such reports and the separate arrangements for their publication. A Commission does not publish its reports directly.

I understand that the anguish felt by many former residents of mother and baby homes and their families has been prolonged by the Commission's need for additional time. However, I know that they understand that this Commission is investigating very important, personal and sensitive matters which happened over a period of more than 75 years.

By any measure this is a complex undertaking and involves the Commission compiling and analysing a vast amount of information and documentation relevant to multiple lines of inquiry.

It is important to reiterate that the Commission is fully independent in the conduct of its investigations. It must, of course, operate within its terms of reference and the previous Government, in granting the extensions sought, had been satisfied that the Commission was using its best endeavours to conclude its report.

The priority has been to safeguard this substantial work so that the Commission can comprehensively address and conclude these crucial matters as expeditiously as possible.

I share the desire of all interested parties to see the Commission conclude its work, and I look forward to receiving the final report at the end of October. Our duty to the women and children who passed through these institutions is to ensure that their lived experiences are shared, acknowledged and understood.

I will keep former residents and the members of this House appraised of the situation when the report is received, and will publish it as soon as possible thereafter.