O’SULLIVAN CALLS FOR PUBLICATION OF SECOND INTERIM MOTHER AND BABY HOME REPORT

Labour Spokesperson on Children and Youth Affairs, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has expressed her disappointment that the second interim report of the Commission of Inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes won’t be published on schedule, by the end of this week.

Minister Katherine Zappone confirmed the delay in response to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy O’Sullivan in the Dáil this afternoon.

Deputy O’Sullivan said:

“It’s unacceptable to learn that despite being in possession of this report since last autumn, the Government says it’s still not ready to publish it by this Friday, as planned.

“There have been media reports suggesting Judge Murphy has recommended possibly extending the redress scheme for victims of residential child abuse, and if this is the case, the women who lived at the homes and their relatives have a right to know.

“I am calling for Minister Zappone to publish the report on schedule, even if the full Government response is not yet ready. The public- and importantly the people directly affected by the Mother and Baby Homes across the country- deserve to see this report.”