Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Shutterstock

Who will chair the mother-and-baby inquiry? The Minister's been given a list of candidates

The Commission of Investigation into the State’s network of mother-and-baby homes is expected to be set up before the Oireachtas summer recess.

CHILDREN’S MINISTER CHARLIE Flanagan has been presented with a list of international judicial figures who could potentially chair the upcoming Commission of Investigation into mother-and-baby homes.

The Coalition of Mother and Baby home Survivors, which represents a number of groups, met with the Minister today to outline their priorities for the inquiry.

Flanagan has been meeting with survivors, campaigners, academics and politicians from the coalition and the opposition in recent weeks — in tandem with the Government’s ongoing review of existing information, which spans a number of departments and State agencies.

It’s expected the Commission, set up in wake of the recent scandal over the mother-and-baby home in Tuam, will be established before the Oireachtas summer recess.

“CMABS legal advisor Mairead Healy made a persuasive argument that an independent and international Judicial Chairperson be appointed to the inquiry and asked to have a direct input into the selection of all key personnel for this inquiry,” a statement from the group said.

The Minister was presented with a list of potential candidates who may be available.

The campaigners at the meeting also highlighted that all relevant institutions should be included in the process, with one survivor from the Westbank/Bethany Homes sharing his own personal testimony with the Minister and calling for all Protestant homes to be included.

The issue of memorials for all ‘Angels’ plots was also raised by Paul Redmond of the Adoption Rights Now group, who said it would be a “concrete gesture” to begin the process of healing.

CMABS, which also includes the groups Beyond Adoption Ireland and Adopted Illegally Ireland, amongst others, has been has been campaigning for a wide-ranging investigation, to include issues like vaccine trials, inhumane/degrading treatment of residents, high mortality rates, open access to records and fathers’ rights.

Speaking after today’s meeting, Redmond told TheJournal.ie that the meeting had been positive, and that he hoped campaign groups would continue to be included in the process as the Commission got under way.

Read: Westbank: The Protestant orphanage where children were whipped, beaten — and everyone had the same name

Read: ‘There’s a nurse leaving the room with my baby… I said to my sister “where’s she gone?”….’

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
8 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Ó Briain
    Favourite Seán Ó Briain
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:52 AM

    NSA knows two things about me.

    That I have a crush on super-milf Lisa-Ann, and that nobody ever calls or texts me.

    God I’m so lonely. :(

    Text me NSA xxx

    432
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o reilly
    Favourite sean o reilly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:02 AM

    I just get a text giving me a quote for my kitchen. Can anyone in the NSA beat it . Give us a buzz.

    133
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kev O Sullivan
    Favourite Kev O Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:46 AM

    Be honest. You’d be worried if they couldn’t. An IPhone isn’t exactly the enigma machine.

    124
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pauliebhoy
    Favourite Pauliebhoy
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:56 AM

    Going by the first paragraph neither are Blackberry and Android devices

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karol Doran
    Favourite Karol Doran
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:00 AM

    Android would be by far the easiest to hack. iPhones would be the hardest. Never once has a virus impacted iPhones, android is just like a PC. Open to attack.

    46
    See 8 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bar
    Favourite Bar
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:05 AM

    There are ios viruses but android heavily accounts for the largest proportion mobile viruses

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:24 AM

    Apple account for something like 0.7 percent of all phone viruses.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute shane
    Favourite shane
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:19 AM

    ITT people who do not understand computer security. No OS is more secure than another..eapecially not to the NSA who even have back doors into encryption. It’s a numbers game for hackers..whichever OS has the bigger market share is more likely to produce results if attacked.. Thats why XP is so exploitable.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jude Mcdonald
    Favourite Jude Mcdonald
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 11:11 AM

    That’s because Android accounts for the largest proportion of mobiles aswell. 79% of smartphones are Android powered in fact.
    http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/07/android-nears-80-market-share-in-global-smartphone-shipments-as-ios-and-blackberry-share-slides-per-idc/

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Andrews
    Favourite Joe Andrews
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:17 PM

    Naw, you just lose all your info when you do an update on an iphone!

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:24 PM

    You can restore your data after an update by contacting the NSA.

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 1:50 PM

    They have there top men working on what LOL , ROFL means.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Muriel Gowing
    Favourite Muriel Gowing
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 5:45 PM

    Karol, Apple is probably ensuring they have access to iPhone users data as well.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:04 AM

    I operate under the assumption that a 13 year old kid in Ohio can access my phone.
    It’s just easier because there will be some day.

    104
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carcu Sidub
    Favourite Carcu Sidub
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:44 PM

    Oh wrong you are, she’s only 8.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nigel Sinnott
    Favourite Nigel Sinnott
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:07 AM

    The NSA know I’m crap at candy crush so

    82
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:14 AM

    Death to America, hang on there’s someone at my door hope they have wifi in Guantanamo.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carcu Sidub
    Favourite Carcu Sidub
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:38 PM

    Meanwhile in Ireland Eircom is still able to defeat the NSA by using dial up for internet access, which forces the NSA computers to time out.

    77
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jed I. Knight
    Favourite Jed I. Knight
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:04 PM

    Just imagine if they wanted people to submit their own fingerprints to an NSA database, wouldn’t happen. Would it? Wait until the new iPhone is unveiled tomorrow, complete with fingerprint recognition. You couldn’t make this up if you tried.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen
    Favourite Stephen
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:03 AM

    They’ll be checking journal comments next, and iam going to presume all red thumbs to this comment will be NSA agents.

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Agusta
    Favourite Anthony Agusta
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:51 AM

    Stasi USA

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Jordan
    Favourite David Jordan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 7:07 PM

    There’s 800,000 Americans with Top Secret clearance, all part of the spying apparatus. So 1 in 400 Americans are involved in the system that spies on other Americans or foreigners. Do yes, Stasi America us right.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute big shmoke
    Favourite big shmoke
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:54 AM

    I remember the days when your big brother gave you your porn, now big brother knows all about my porn as soon as I do. Shocked…

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Karol Doran
    Favourite Karol Doran
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:48 AM

    I couldn’t care less if the NSA know every facet of my iPhone.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eoin Mulligan
    Favourite Eoin Mulligan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 8:57 AM

    Me neither, but that’s not the point. The point is it shouldn’t be (and may not be) legal to do it.

    88
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute RiobairdOMaingain
    Favourite RiobairdOMaingain
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:14 AM

    Except my browser history…

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus
    Favourite Seamus
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:03 AM

    If this action prevents an aircraft being blown out of the sky that I or ye are travelling inside then we will say ” you guys well done”

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bar
    Favourite Bar
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:05 AM

    You dont really understand all this NSA stuff so?

    66
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:33 PM

    Why don’t you enlighten us?

    4
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Read moar….

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Sep 11th 2013, 12:46 AM

    I read loads. Maybe the next time you’re doing some reading of your own, you might learn how to spell. Good chap. Back to bed with your tinfoil hat now….

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:27 AM

    The overwhelming majority of people have nothing to fear from this. There isn’t some guy in Washington following your latest quarrel with your misses with some popcorn. Unless you’re plotting to plant a bomb somewhere I’m sure you’re fine.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute sean o reilly
    Favourite sean o reilly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:25 AM

    Yeah Ferg the NSA are the good guys nothing to worry about here.

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fergal Kelly
    Favourite Fergal Kelly
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:32 PM

    I’m just saying, it really doesn’t impact on you.

    6
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 1:04 PM

    Sorry Fergal but this “if you’re not up to anything you’ve nothing to be concerned about” attitude is exactly what allows such invasions of privacy to continue.

    The NSA themselves have admitted that some of their own agents have abused their ability to get private data.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Anthony Agusta
    Favourite Anthony Agusta
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 1:27 PM

    Not yet

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dagda
    Favourite Dagda
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 3:02 PM

    You couldn’t be more wrong.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Criminal
    Favourite Criminal
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:23 AM

    NSA knw I shit twice a day

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Blinky
    Favourite Blinky
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:33 AM

    You take selfie’s on the loo?

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rúairí O’ Sullivan
    Favourite Rúairí O’ Sullivan
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 2:44 PM

    Are you keeping a record on your phone?

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MKUltra
    Favourite MKUltra
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 3:22 PM

    time to buy an old school nokia phone from ebay

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kerry Blake
    Favourite Kerry Blake
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 9:50 AM

    Hardly a surprise?

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Mac Cormac Finishline
    Favourite Seamus Mac Cormac Finishline
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:36 AM

    I’m not a one for the big brother stories ,but the cell phone technology was around way before we all got to use them ,it is purely just a tracking device ,that’s how they track traffic patterns etc ,the US government wanted to put ,at birth , a little device the size of a grain of rice in children at birth ,but that wasnt allowed ,so they waited till battery technology caught up to have every one have a tracking device ,Steve jobs was no genius , he was a front for the government ,and now he is no longer needed ,bye bye ,iPhone is the final product ,even when they are turned off they can still send a signal because you cannot take out battery ,

    When tracking phone signals in America there was a large hotspot showed up in the woods in upstate newyork ,the FBI were deployed straight away and found that there was a meeting of all neo-natzis in newyork going on and this was all because of cellphones that they were tracked ,so it isn’t a bad thing ,it helps catch the crazy s ,and I have nothing to hide so I don’t mind them tracking ,the trouble is even when they find information that is valuable they have trouble using it because of restrictions ,and its normally too late ,people who spill the beans like snowden make them selves look like heros by stealing and publishing this stuff ,but chances are they put out info that was never used and just make it harder on the people who we pay to protect us out of our taxes to do there job .

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rian Lynch
    Favourite Rian Lynch
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:59 AM

    I bet you really bought into the whole x files thing

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seamus Mac Cormac Finishline
    Favourite Seamus Mac Cormac Finishline
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 11:14 AM

    Never watched it ,lol,not big Telly fan ,like ms brown and comedy stuff ,I just saw a documentary about this subject on public tv in America ,its the freedom of speech laws allowed it to be brodcast ,but its rarely on channels that get watched a lot ,check out jessy Ventura ,he has a show about the inside dealings of government ,and he used to be a governor ,crazy stuff

    8
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 1:10 PM

    They would have no trouble using other information.

    The idea that such tracking is only intended to “catch crazies” as you put it is farcical and naive.

    What about tracking the information of a diplomat for example – or a businessman, and discovering data which could be used on the stock market. Seems like someone just making money? Well yes, that could be – but it could also mean job losses, and direct impact of people who decide “sure they only do it to protect me from terrorists”.

    The NSA themselves have admitted that some of their own staff have been spying on wives, girlfriends – and their ex’s.
    This kind of thing goes on until it gets discovered. If it’s not discovered, it goes on.

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Sherman
    Favourite Dave Sherman
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:13 AM

    So the NSA now know that Bomber Riley was seen out drinking the night before the County Final…

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Producer
    Favourite Producer
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:04 PM

    I have extremely important documents on my cell phone. If they got into the wrong hands it would surely be the downfall of all that is wrong with society and its rulers. Its a recipe for great Cannon ball stuffing.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jim Flavin
    Favourite Jim Flavin
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 12:21 PM

    We keep the NSA employed – maybe they should give us a grant .!!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Kilgannon
    Favourite James Kilgannon
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 4:11 PM

    I hope the NSA never publish my Facebook stalking habits.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Guldir
    Favourite Guldir
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 3:46 PM

    This is not news, every app in the play sorted requires access to information and location. Also ALL “smart”phones have constant gps sat on all the time. So yes even Google sews you calling the mistress to get some on the side or the folks up in finglas getting some Mary Jane. Basically they know all about you it’s not just the the NSA.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tony Canning
    Favourite Tony Canning
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 6:06 PM

    Guldr. This is not just about your location data. If you keep up to date on the PRISM scandal and many of the revelations since you might see that this is actually a serious thing and extends to potentially effect anyone and everyone.

    As I mentioned – it’s not just about location data. What many don’t seem to understand is that location data etc is by and large still anonymous – but what the NSA are up to is a lot more than just that. There is a very wide gulf between anonymous tracking and privacy.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Keelan O'neill
    Favourite Keelan O'neill
    Report
    Sep 9th 2013, 10:57 PM

    There’s no way they can access a Nokia 3310 those phones are unbreakable.

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds