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The Taoiseach says the government isn't ruling anything out in terms of a State apology and redress. RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach not anticipating 'obstacles or barriers' to publishing Mother and Baby Home report

The Taoiseach met with survivor and advocacy groups this morning.

AFTER MEETING MOTHER and Baby Home survivor and advocacy groups this morning, the Taoiseach has said he is not “anticipating any “obstacles or barriers” to the release of the commission’s report.

The commission was set up over five years ago and the submission of the long-awaited report, which is about 4,000 pages long, was delayed a number of times.

The commission’s records – and whether or not they will be sealed for 30 years – have been the subject of much debate in recent weeks.

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will submit its final report to the government today.

The report will be examined by Minister Roderic O’Gorman, the Department of Children and the Attorney General before being published.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin today, Micheál Martin said:

“It is our intention to publish this, because the whole purpose of establishing the commission was to tell as comprehensive the story as much as possible about what I regard as a very shameful and and dark, dark period in our country’s history.”

When asked if a State apology might be made, the Taoiseach said: “I’m ruling nothing out at all.”

“And certainly we won’t be found wanting in terms of a comprehensive response,” he added. 

“I would anticipate that we will publish this as soon as possible. We’re not looking at it from the perspective of barriers to publication, rather, we’re looking at it from the perspective of enabling it to be published, as soon as we possibly can,” said Martin.

The Taoiseach said he had a “constructive meeting” with various survivor and advocacy groups this morning. 

He said they discussed how to “move forward” in terms of dealing with issues to do with the application of GDPR in terms of access to records, and the legislative agenda that is required for getting statutory access to records for people generally, as well as for people who were adopted.

The Taoiseach said they also looked at the framework needed for the future legislation as well as the establishment of a proper archival centre to hold the archive.

“That story deserves to be told, and needs to be told,” he said, adding that it needs to be shared with the people of Ireland.

“That is my objective and indeed the objective of the wider government,” he said.

When asked about redress for the survivors, he said “suffice to say, we will be making a very comprehensive response to this, and I don’t want to obviously preempt the report itself… we certainly won’t be found wanting in terms of the comprehensive response,” said the Taoiseach.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:27 PM

    Fianna Fail as per usual covering their tracks,do they think people have forgot the deal they did with the Catholic church over their kiddy fiddling for a bag of beans.

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    Mute Edward Natali
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:44 PM

    @Paul Mc: Something is seriously wrong when a government is willing to indemnify the catholic church against sexual abuse claims, and leave tax-payers to cover the costs…

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    Mute Michael Flynn
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:46 PM

    @Paul Mc: The phrase “kiddy fiddling” is disrespectful to the children who were abused. The Journal’s Nanny Bot will not let me say anything stronger than that.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:51 PM

    When the part time Taoiseacht Michael Martin says he’s not anticipating any problem, that is a sure sign they will be a problem. They spent the week trying to tell is there was no problem with the Bill, Yet after voting for it a F.F. TD. from Carlow ask for clarification on the bill.

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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Oct 30th 2020, 6:14 PM

    The obstacle is the sealing of records. We are sick of quangos and reports/findings that ultimately get ignored.

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    Mute Gerard Heery
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    Oct 30th 2020, 9:24 PM

    @Carlin Ite: a report is another word for forget about it

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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    Oct 30th 2020, 6:03 PM

    There’s gonna be a few obstacles so…

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    Mute G Row.
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    Oct 30th 2020, 7:40 PM

    Next time any of FFG come looking for votes please remember this.

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    Mute Eddie Michael
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    Oct 30th 2020, 6:39 PM

    Heavily censored of course….

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:58 PM

    Michael Flynn,
    No disrespect was meant for the innocent children was intended but as you yourself state one has to be careful what is put down as a comment!

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    Mute John Hartigan
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    Oct 31st 2020, 12:00 AM

    And pigs might fly

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    Mute Robert Breen
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:48 PM

    hjk;

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    Mute Robert Breen
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    Oct 30th 2020, 5:48 PM

    hello

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