Limited Mother and Baby Home Investigation Could Jeopardise Cross-Party Consensus – FF

Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Robert Troy has said that any attempt to narrow the scope of the proposed Commission of Investigation could jeopardise the cross-party consensus that currently exists on the issue.

Expressing disappointment that the terms of reference for the proposed Commission of Inquiry will not now appear until the autumn, the Fianna Fáil spokesperson said that he hoped it was not a delaying tactic designed to give the government time to condition a limited expectation as to what is it reasonable or appropriate for the Commission of Investigation to inquire into.

Deputy Troy said: “There is a clear prospect now that the Terms of Reference will be published around the time of Budget 2015 when there will obviously be strong focus on available resources. I hope the government is not using this to diminish the scope of the inquiry.

“No-one is suggesting that the Commission should be given a blank cheque but we want to see a comprehensive inquiry that will bring these issues to a satisfactory conclusion.  It is an opportunity to afford closure to all those who suffered and that shows people, both here and abroad, that we as a country and as a people are willing to deal with the difficult issues from our past.

“There is a need for us as a society to shed as much transparency and light as possible on the matter. Establishing the truth is the least these women and children deserve. It is only in that way we can bring closure to such matters.”