[ad_1]
The Government will outline plans to collaborate with the Data Protection Commissioner and the children’s and families agency, Tusla, to ensure that citizens’ rights are fully respected when it comes to accessing data related to the homes of mothers and babies. .
Cabinet has agreed that additional resources will be made available as needed to ensure those rights are fully implemented.
The issue was expected to dominate a cabinet meeting today.
The Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, updated ministers on plans to publish the report of the Commission of Inquiry on Maternal and Child Homes.
The government was caught off guard by the force of the backlash against the decision to pass a new law related to the records collected by the investigation, and the TDs have received a large volume of complaints.
Activists said the legislation was rushed through the Oireachtas and the minister missed an opportunity to ensure wider access to the records secured by the commission.
Most of the material will go to the National Archives, where it will be sealed for 30 years.
The bill, which has now been signed into law by President Michael D Higgins, provided for the transfer of some of the records to the Agency for Children and Families, Tusla.
The commission’s 4,000-page report will be delivered to Minister O’Gorman on Friday, but will not be published until December or January.
Read more:
Calls for transparency about mother and baby household files
President Signs Mother and Baby Homes Bill
The legislation on maternal and child homes passes through Dáil
It is understood that it will be examined by the Attorney General, the Director of the Public Ministry and An Garda Síochána to see if it raises any legal issues, especially in relation to future or ongoing trials.
The minister will also discuss updating the legislation on information and tracking of adoptions, which is considered inadequate.
O’Gorman will also lay out plans for previously announced legislation to allow further excavations at the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway.
The burial bill for certain institutions was announced by the former minister for children, Katherine Zappone, but it did not go through pre-legislative scrutiny in January because elections were called.
In addition, the Minister of Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, will bring a memorandum on the revision of the National Development Plan that was promised in the Government Program.
There will be a public consultation that will analyze the levels of investment and the allocations to the departments.
Cabinet will also receive an update on the work of the subgroup on insurance reform.
[ad_2]