Written answers

Wednesday, 20 January 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries

Photo of Holly CairnsHolly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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358. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a physical copy of the mother and baby homes commission report is being given to each known survivor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3181/21]

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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374. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a copy of a report will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2604/21]

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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382. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when hard copies of the commission on the investigation into mother and baby and Bethany homes report will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 374 and 382 together.

A printed copy of the Final Report of the Commission will be made available to any survivor who wishes to have one.

The Report was made available in digital format in the first instance so as to immediately make it available to the widest possible audience. This is particularly important having regard to the sheer size of the report and the extreme challenges which arise in disseminating hard copies, due to current necessary public health restrictions.

On the 13 January, my Department issued an email to our contact list of survivors and advocates and posted a notice on my Department's website, to outline how survivors and their advocates could secure a copy of the report. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6pm, or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie. There is no charge for any former resident to be provided with a copy of the report.

With regard to the details provided by the Deputy, my Department will make contact directly with the individual concerned and make the necessary arrangements.

The Department has an abridged version of the Report, containing the main chapters such as the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and of course, the key chapters containing Survivors’ own stories, for any survivor who requests one. The Department also has printed copies of the full report (six volumes of almost 3,000 pages and weighing 8.5kg) which if preferred, are also be available for any survivor who requests one, again free of charge. The Department has limited stocks of both formats but additional copies will be produced to meet demand.

My officials are procuring the services of third parties to print and deliver the hard copies of the report, hence the need for written consent from individuals. Names and addresses will be shared with a third party service provider and this will be done in full compliance with General Data Protection Guidelines.

When the public health situation permits, the Department will also make available printed copies of the full report in specified public facilities. Further details of these arrangements will be publicised in due course.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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359. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of authorities, persons, Ministers and Departments that had access to the final report of the mother and baby homes commission of investigation prior to 10 January 2021. [2292/21]

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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363. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he will take to ensure a full investigation into the leak of the mother and baby homes report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2337/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 363 together.

It is a matter of deep regret that details of the Commission's Final Report were leaked ahead of its publication. I contacted survivors immediately on learning of the coverage in a Sunday newspaper and the matter is now under investigation. I understand why many survivors are feeling hurt and let down that any element of the Report was given to the media in this manner. This is not what I had planned and it should not have happened.

It was always my intention that survivors would be the first to hear details of the Commission's findings, how to access the Report, and the measures proposed by Government in responding to the Commission's recommendations. My Department had taken appropriate steps to set up engagement with survivors and to maintain the confidentiality of the Report prior to its publication.

This issue was discussed at Government level and the Secretary General to the Government is leading an investigation into these matters. I await the outcome of this process.

Photo of Peadar TóibínPeadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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360. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of times since he took office that he has spoken to or corresponded with his predecessor (details supplied) about the mother and baby homes commission of investigation and issues related to it. [2293/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I met with my predecessor in July, shortly after I was appointed. We discussed a wide range of issues pertaining to the remit of the Department, and the additional functions transferring to it. The topics we discussed included the Adoption (Information and Tracing) legislation, and the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes.

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