Written answers
Wednesday, 24 February 2021
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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640. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the way in which the audio recordings of oral evidence given by persons to the Confidential Committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes were destroyed; the reason these recordings cannot be retrieved or recovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10367/21]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The statutory Commission of Investigation is independent in the conduct of its inquiries and as such I had no role in, or knowledge of, the particulars of its approach to its investigation or how it managed the audio recording from the Confidential Committee module. I note that the final report states that witnesses were asked for permission to record their evidence on the clear understanding that the recordings would be used only as an aide-mémoire, and then be destroyed.
I have engaged intensively with the Commission to resolve the understandable concerns of survivors in relation to the audio recordings made by the Confidential Committee. The Commission notified me on Monday 22 February that it had retrieved the backup tapes containing the audio recordings from the Confidential Committee from its off-site storage. An IT expert has checked whether the audio recordings are retrievable by testing a random sample and verified that they are accessible and audible.
The Commission has agreed to deposit the audio recordings with my Department, a commitment that is in keeping with other actions it is taking to transfer the rest of the archive to me by 28 February.
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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641. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the details and copies of all correspondence between him and-or his Department and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner in relation to audio recordings of oral evidence given by persons to the confidential committee of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10368/21]
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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642. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the details and copies of all correspondence between him and-or his Department and the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in relation to audio recordings of oral evidence given by persons to the confidential committee of the commission will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10369/21]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 642 together.
I have engaged in numerous correspondences with both the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, in relation to the audio recordings used by the Commission. I will consider the Deputy's request in the hope to assist in furthering public understanding of this issue.
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