Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 74 of 27 May 2021, when the report of the Collaborative Forum of Former Residents of Mother and Baby Homes and Related Institutions, submitted to him in December 2018 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16664/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I recently met with the Collaborative Forum on 22 March to update members on the progress being made in advancing key initiatives in the published Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. We also discussed specific matters of concern to the Forum, including the significant legislative programme being progressed as part of the Action Plan and arrangements for publication of the Forum’s report.

Publication of the Forum’s report had to initially await the publication of the Commission’s report. For this reason, the Forum's recommendations were initially published and a commitment was given to revisit the question of publication following the completion of the Commission's work. Thereafter, in acting on legal advice, the Department commenced a right of reply process to ensure relevant parties named in the report were afforded due process prior to publication. While I regret how long this necessary process has taken, it is envisaged that it can be finally concluded next month, thereby enabling my Department to seek further advices of the Attorney General’s Office with a view to publication at that point.

I will revert to the Collaborative Forum directly to discuss practical arrangements in advance of any publication.