Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1493. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for a status update on the negotiation process between the expert negotiator and religious orders with regard to contributing to the mother and baby institutions redress scheme; the expected timeline for the conclusion of the negotiation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39256/23]
View answerGovernment believes that all relevant parties have a collective responsibility to respond to Ireland's legacy in relation to the Mother and Baby institutions. From its own perspective, Government is working through the commitments made in its Action Plan response, including the development of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, intervention at Tuam Mother and Baby Home burial site and access to birth information.
I commenced discussions with regard to a contribution from the religious congregations towards the cost of the Payment Scheme and I recently secured government approval to engage a negotiator to conclude these discussions.
While these discussions are ongoing they are being treated as confidential. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to say anything further on the matter at this time but I will brief Government on the matter when the process is concluded. I expect this process to take a number more months.
