Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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107. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he will publish the certain institutional burials (authorised interventions) Bill for second stage. [5325/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am acutely conscious of the urgent need to pass legislation in order to allow the excavation to begin at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam.

The General Scheme of a Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill was developed to provide the required legal basis for intervention at the Tuam site and at other locations should similar circumstances come to light. As the Deputy is aware, the Bill underwent Pre-Legislative Scrutiny in the first half of 2021 and the Joint Oireachtas Committee published its report in July. I have carefully considered the recommendations from that process to take account of issues raised by the Committee, survivors, and family members. The Bill is now close to completion and I intend to publish it in the coming weeks and move it through the Houses of Oireachtas as quickly as possible.