Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A printed hard copy of the Final Report of the Commission is being made available to any survivor who wishes to have one, at no cost, by my Department. On the 13 January, my Department issued an email to our contact list of survivors and advocates and posted a notice on our website, outlining how survivors and their advocates could secure a copy of the report. My Department can be contacted at 01-6473200 or by emailing motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie.

The Report was published 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 challenges which arise in disseminating hard copies, due in part to current necessary public health restrictions. The Department also has an abridged version of the Report available, containing chapters such as the Executive Summary, Recommendations, and of course, the report from the Confidential Committee, if this format is preferred.

My Department has secured the services of third parties to print and deliver the hard copies of the report. With the consent of those seeking copies of the report, arrangements are being made for delivery of the reports in response to the requests being received by my Department. This is being done in full compliance with General Data Protection Guidelines. I am advised that a large number of full reports have been dispatched and that more will follow shortly.

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 felt 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.

Supporting survivors to access their personal information is a key priority and a cornerstone of Government's Action Plan in response to the Commission's report. The action plan contains a number of items that will assist survivors in accessing their information such as implementing new Information and Tracing Legislation; providing access to the Commissions archive of records when it transfers to my Department at the end of February; the creation of a central repository of institutional records and the appointment of an archivist to lead work on preservation of, and appropriate public access to, the records held by my Department. I am working to implement these measures as quickly as is possible.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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563. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to meet with a representative group (details supplied). [7228/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 563 together.

In responding to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation, the Government has approved the development of a Strategic Action Plan encompassing a suite of 22 specific measures. These measures, which take account of the Commission's recommendations, are intended to respond to the priority needs and concerns of former residents and their families. This is a hugely important process for all connected to these institutions and I will be working with colleagues and survivors to advance these measures as a priority.

Most importantly, we will take a survivor-centred approach, characterised by consistent engagement with former residents and their representative groups, including the survivor diaspora. Notably, my Department has been contacted by several hundred survivors since the report was published, many of whom have never been in contact with us before. It is clear, therefore, that new demands emerge in seeking to facilitate dialogue and consultation on the Commission’s Final Report and the State’s Action Plan.

Structured engagement and consultation of this nature requires specific structures, systems and resources to ensure it is inclusive and effective. Innovative methods are required to achieve this objective, especially given the continuing challenges presented by the restrictions necessary to reduce the public health risks associated with Covid-19.

As a first step, I have commenced this consultation with members of the Collaborative Forum as I believe that a new and enhanced model of engagement, which builds upon the strengths of the existing process, can increase opportunities for direct engagement with the large numbers of stakeholders and their representative groups. It is my intention to accommodate both the representative groups mentioned and other relevant stakeholders in this engagement. I want to commence this dialogue as quickly as possible and I will announce further details in due course.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Commission of investigation into Mother and Baby Homes has made clear recommendations in relation to redress on the basis of its extensive statutory investigations. Notably, the Commission identifies three specific groups for whom it recommends redress might be considered. The Commission also notes that redress can be financial or can be in the form of enhanced services.

The Government has made a very significant and early commitment to accept these recommendations and design a bespoke Restorative Recognition Scheme. An Inter-Departmental Group (IDG), which is being led by my Department, has now commenced the detailed work to scope the terms and conditions for the scheme. The IDG will examine the specific groups identified by the Commission but is not restricted to these.

While the provision of free travel passes to former residents was not specifically included by the Commission in its recommendations, I will pass the Deputies suggestion to the IDG for its consideration. Given the age profile of many survivors, as detailed in the demographic data provided by the Commission, it is likely that a significant number of survivors may already be eligible for free travel in accordance with the Free Travel Scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection.