Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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605. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will not dissolve on 28 February 2021; and if it will be extended for another year (details supplied). [9675/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Commission has discharged the statutory function set by the Oireachtas and exhausted its remit. It has delivered its report in accordance with Section 43 of the Commissions of Investigation Act, 2004.

I am aware of recent calls from some advocates and public representatives for the timeframe of the Commission to be extended to enable it deal with concerns relating to its report and its records.

Any call to extend the timeframe of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes must have regard to the fact that the independent Commission has completed the inquiries it was established to conduct.

I have engaged intensively with the Commission to resolve the understandable concerns of survivors in relation to the audio recordings made by the Confidential Committee. The Commission notified me on Monday 22 February that it had retrieved the backup tapes containing the audio recordings from the Confidential Committee from its off-site storage. An IT expert has checked whether the audio recordings are retrievable by testing a random sample and verified that they are accessible and audible. The Commission has agreed to deposit the audio recordings with my Department, a commitment that is in keeping with other actions it is taking to transfer the rest of the archive to me by 28 February.

The retrieval of these audio recordings by the Commission is a significant and welcome development. Their transfer to my Department this week will provide an avenue for those who consented to the recording of their interview to seek access to this personal data.

It is not clear at this stage what would be gained by extending the term of the Commission. I am also conscious that there could be other, broader unintended consequences associated with extending the timeframe of this Commission when it has completed its work and so any action in this direction would have to be very strongly and clearly justified, having due regard to what it will serve to achieve and how related risks and unintended consequences can be managed.