Mother and baby homes records
Deputy Connolly raised concerns that testimony given to the mother and baby homes commission may have been destroyed in breach of the law and without proper consent. The Taoiseach said he would discuss it with the Minister and that the commission's independence must be reconciled with the 2004 records-preservation legislation.
I want to raise a matter relating to the destruction of evidence. Page 11 of the report on mother and baby homes records that permission was sought from those who came forward to record their testimony and on the clear understanding it would be destroyed. That is not the clear understanding of those who went forward. I want to pre-empt the Taoiseach responding by telling me that this was an independent investigation. What action is the Government taking in respect of what looks like an action taken by the commission that is outside the terms of the legislation passed in 2004, which prohibits the destruction of information and evidence gathered?
On the information leaflet given to survivors to inform them that their permission was sought to record their testimonies, there was no mention of destruction. What action is the Government taking about that, in view of the fact that the Data Protection Commissioner has raised issues in this regard?
Comment on this
I will discuss this issue with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who will engage with the commission.
The commission is independent but, on the other hand, the point in the context of the 2004 legislation, which provides for the preservation of records, is a fair one. That issue needs to be reconciled and sorted.