WHAT SHAPE AN inquiry into how mother and baby homes operated in Ireland during the 20th century will be the main topic of discussion at Cabinet today.
Entering Leinster House this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny made it clear that his government were treating the Tuam mass grave controversy as a wider issue.
“I think there is much more to this than one mother and baby home,” he told reporters. “I have a briefing from the Minister for Children this morning and will decide what is the best thing to do.”
Charlie Flanagan will present findings from his interdepartmental review during the meeting and Kenny said he will then decide on the “best way to proceed”.
Also speaking on Kildare Street this morning, Minister Brendan Howlin said the “robust” inquiry will deal with all the matter that have arisen over the past fortnight, including trial vaccinations and adoptions.
“We need answers on all of those matters so whatever way it is shaped up, I would imagine all these things will have to be fully explored and examined by whatever form of inquiry is deemed appropriate,” he said.
Howlin also confirmed that government is “moving towards an inquiry”
“But we want to make sure it is an inquiry that is full in its scope. And that we don’t have to add on things after the terms of reference have been determined.”
He added that the country was stunned by the revelations.
“The range of issues that emerged in the last couple of weeks I think have shocked all of us. We thought we were inured to some of our dark past… to what happened. Particularly as it affected children in this country in the early years of this State.”
We need to have a comprehensive analysis of what’s happened and a comprehensive explanation… An exposé of what’s happened.
Sinn Féin has called for an independent judicial inquiry to be established immediately and will be tabling a private members motion to that effect in the Dáil later today.
“It is not desirable that we have a drip drip approach with this issue,” Deputy Leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald told Morning Ireland.
Reporting by Rónán Duffy
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