Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent)
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300. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the appointment of a person (details supplied) to an inquiry is effective from 1 July 2021; the timelines indicated that would be required to oversee the inquiry; if the person will be conducting a desktop analysis of the previous work; if not, if it will be in addition to previous work; if additional terms of reference are being considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36836/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission of Investigation which is investigating the extent to which organisations, including State bodies, and individuals were aware of the child sexual abuse committed by an individual during the 1980s is an independent body and I, as Minister for Justice, have no role in the conduct of its investigation.

On 9 June I announced my decision to appoint Mr Justice Michael White as the member of the Commission. Mr Justice White became the sole member on 1 July. I would like to express my gratitude to Judge Barry Hickson for all of his work on this Commission of investigation and wish him the very best for the future.

As the Deputy will appreciate, this Commission, as with all Commissions of Investigations, is completely independent in its work, and I cannot intervene in the process, nor direct the Commission in any way.

The working pattern of any Commission of Investigation is a matter for the Commission itself, and it would not be appropriate for myself, as Minister, to advise the Commission in how to conduct its work.

However, I can inform the Deputy that there are no plans to amend the terms of reference of the Commission at this time.