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A headstone for a baby who died at the Bessborough Centre in Blackrock, Cork in the mid 1990's. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

Handover of 25,000 mother-and-baby files indicates "scale and breadth" of investigation

Some 25,000 files have been handed over by the Sacred Heart Adoption Society to the Cork offices of Government agency ‘TUSLA’.

CHILDREN’S MINISTER CHARLIE Flanagan has confirmed that 25,000 files have been handed over from the Sacred Heart Adoption Society to the Cork offices of the Child and Family Agency ‘TUSLA’.

The Sacred Heart Sisters operated three of the country’s largest mother-and-baby homes: Bessborough in Cork, Castlepollard in Westmeath and Sean Ross Abbey in Tipperary.

Speaking in the Dáil, Flanagan said the figure indicated the scale and breadth of the task facing the Commission of Investigation being set up to examine the country’s mother-and-baby institutions.

He made the comments as his Department confirmed that it had received over 100 submissions from individuals and groups as part of the planned investigation.

Senior officials from eight Government departments briefed Cabinet today on the interim findings of the cross-departmental review being carried out in advance of the formal start of the Commission of Investigation.

A number of Government departments and state agencies were asked to scope the issues relevant to the Commission and to report by the end of June.

Flanagan said he intended to move ahead with the finalisation of the terms of reference ”and to bring a resolution to the Oireachtas for consideration prior to the summer recess to facilitate the making of an order to formally establish the Commission”.

Regarding the hand-over of documents to TULSA in Cork, he said:

What we will have to do is go through these documents, as we in the context of the investigation deal with the very sensitive issues involved – by way of insuring that we have at this point in our history a full and detailed appraisal of what went on over the years.

He said the number of files gave a good indication of the the scale of the inquiry, which he said would provide a “detailed history going back to the foundation of the state and up to the 1980s”.

Flanagan has been meeting with survivors’ groups, campaigners, academics with expertise in the area, opposition politicians and religious leaders in recent weeks as part of the inter-departmental review.

Yesterday afternoon was set as the deadline for submissions to the Department — after a dedicated email address was set up earlier last month.

There have been calls to have the Commission include many of the various Protestant-run children’s homes and orphanages, while one group said the investigation may have to examine activities in “around 100″ institutions in all.

Read: It’s not just Tuam… Mother-and-baby probe needs to examine at least 100 institutions, Minister told

Exclusive: Children died of malnutrition, syphilis, heart failure at mother and baby home

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    Mute little jim
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:14 PM

    You’d actually miss Steve Jobs floating around the place, there’s a lot of charisma gone from the company. The man made a bug look like a feature.

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    Mute David Fortune
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    Sep 9th 2015, 9:08 AM

    I really like Craig Federighi, he’s a very different vibe to Jobs but his sections have been the highlight of the past few keynotes.

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    Mute Jake Race
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    Sep 9th 2015, 10:17 AM

    Yup, just what we need. More vacuous crap to excite the cult.

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    Mute David Fortune
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    Sep 9th 2015, 10:23 AM

    Ahh Jake, was wondering when you’d get here. Excited to see what Samsung will be releasing in 6 months?

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    Mute Monty Wuggy
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    Sep 9th 2015, 10:28 AM

    It looks this article was initially posted a week or two ago but we now know for certain that the iPad Pro is being announced tonight. 12.9 inch display and much faster processor. And I agree David, Federighi has developed into a really smooth presenter.

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    Mute Ciaran Ó Fallúin
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    Sep 9th 2015, 12:11 PM

    @David, we already know what Samsung will announce, another android device giving people the ability to tailor their user experience to their wants in a great value piece of tech, often with groundbreaking invention.

    I’ll say it now, the Samsung tab I received as a gift over a year and a half ago (costing my gf 220 quid) remains the most impressive tech device I have ever had for such a small price tag. I use it for 2 hours most evenings, charging it every 4/5 days. The screen is excellent, the processor fast. I’ve bounced it on tiles, carpet and wooden floors and though the back shows a thousand scratches the experience is unchanged.

    There’s a difference between build quality and the feel of build quality. I feel Apple hits the latter.

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    Mute Michael cunnane
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:30 PM

    an sd card slot, increased battery life, ah here get a grip on yourself!!!

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    Mute Itsthe Law
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:20 PM

    Did anyone tell iPhone Joan about this

    122
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    Mute Rusty Balls
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    Aug 31st 2015, 1:03 PM

    She’s sending some undercover gardai…

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    Mute Meehawwl O'Buachailla
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:42 PM

    Technology wankfest.

    85
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    Mute Daisy Chainsaw
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    Aug 31st 2015, 10:10 PM

    There’ll be an announcement that the thing they announced as the GREATEST iTHING IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE a few months ago is now an outdated peice of rubbish that everyone will laught at you over. But you can avoid that laughter by paying even more money for the new GREATEST iTHING IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE. Pay someone to start queueing now!!

    iDrones… so predictable

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    Mute Rory Corbett
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    Sep 1st 2015, 6:10 AM

    Rose gold is auspicious to the Chinese hence the watch colour.. Pure marketing ploy..

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:21 PM

    Belfast it is :)

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    Mute Jay Coleman
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:44 PM

    Or parcel motel :)

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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:44 PM

    A massive circle jerk

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    Mute Mick Power
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    Aug 31st 2015, 3:15 PM

    Did you not get your invitation?

    32
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    Mute Michael Carroll
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    Aug 31st 2015, 12:17 PM

    what’s the point !!

    30
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    Mute Carlin Ite
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    Sep 1st 2015, 8:49 AM

    Animated backgrounds and motion sensor remote. Give us micro sd slots in phones and a browser for Apple TV

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    Mute Liam Treacy
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    Sep 9th 2015, 6:45 AM

    SD slot will never happen when they can get a monthly fee for iCloud.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Sep 9th 2015, 7:06 AM

    Sigh.
    When you think about it, both those things would be more of a hindrance than a help.
    No matter what platform you use, cloud storage is the way forward, and using your TV to browse the Internet, is that really a good way to work?

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    Mute Joe P
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    Sep 9th 2015, 6:43 AM

    Just a hyped up outdated product announcements which are based on proprietary outdated technology and too expensive. good marketing job though.

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    Mute BroadSideSkid
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    Aug 31st 2015, 2:03 PM

    Yeah, big swingin’ Mickey !

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    Mute BevinArmageddon
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    Aug 31st 2015, 5:37 PM

    Please, please let it be a iPod wheel in-place of a keyboard

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    Mute BevinArmageddon
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    Aug 31st 2015, 8:19 PM

    You people are crazy if you don’t think that would be greatest invention of the 21st Century
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BnLbv6QYcA

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    Mute Mac
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    Sep 9th 2015, 8:43 AM

    My phone is better than your phone woooo me! I am winning! Im going to make you feel inadequate about your phone because my phone has some particular features I use that you dont need. Whats that you have? An iPhone? Seriously? You know Samsungs are better right? OH MY GAWWWWW

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    Mute Dsl
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    Sep 9th 2015, 12:30 PM

    Since when is a pic with windows 10 an apple product ?

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    Mute Eoin
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    Sep 9th 2015, 3:34 PM

    Shut up and take my money.

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