Govt Criticised For Mother And Baby Homes Investigation Failure

The government has been criticised for failing to publish the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes before the summer recess.

Fianna Fáil welcomed the news that Judge Yvonne Murphy has appointed chairperson of the commission, but the party's spokesperson on Children & Youth Affairs Robert Troy "I am extremely disappointed that despite many previous commitments to publish the terms of reference before the summer recess, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has decided to push this important step back until the autumn.

"I hope this is not a delaying tactic designed to give the government time to condition expectations as to what is reasonable for the Commission to investigate. We may not now see the Terms of Reference until nearer Budget time, when there is obviously a strong focus on resources.  It would be extremely regretful if the government was delaying the publication of the Terms of Reference in order to diminish the scope of the inquiry.

"I have been consistent in my belief that this matter should be progressed in a non-partisan way, that it be done in a sensitive manner and that the key objective must be to establish the true facts of what happened in all of the institutions that accommodated unmarried mothers. It should also focus on the issues of forced adoption, vaccine testing and medical trials.

"I hope we can achieve this but I am concerned that the government is looking to limit the Commission of Inquiry. I will be raising these issues in the Dáil debate tomorrow."

(MH/IT)