I hope I can address the points raised by the Senators. I share Senator Higgins's interpretation and, on the legal advice we have received, we are assured that the legislation deals appropriately with data protection considerations relevant to the Bill. We share the Senator's interpretations on the points she has raised.

Unfortunately, I will not be in a position to accept this group of amendments, following engagement with the Attorney General and officials in my office. Much of that is the result of the core consequence of this commission of inquiry being based on the 2004 legislation. With regard to Senator Bacik's amendment, section 3(1) specifically outlines what is lawful for the agency to possess and the relevant current statute under which it might do so. Based on my engagement with the Attorney General, it is understood th…

I will be fully honest with the Senator. I do not see at this point that I will be in a position to address this particular matter in the Dáil, as I felt I was addressing-----

It will not be done through legislation at this point.

I might be able to provide the clarity the Senator wants. In the case of section 45 of the Act of 2004, I am aware that amendments also relate to a concern that an unintended consequence could arise if the amendment precluded the Minister from also transferring the archive to a tribunal, where requested. In this regard we have checked with Parliamentary Counsel and I am satisfied that this unintended consequence does not arise. Section 45 of the Act of 2004 continues to stand in relation to the requirement for the …

In the comments I made earlier in response to Senator Higgins's amendments on the issue of a full copy of the database both being in the archive and transferring to Tusla, I indicated I had flagged that with the Attorney General and asked that he work with my Department so that we can bring forward an amendment in the Dáil. I hope that colleagues will accept my bona fides on that proposal. Amendment No. 37 is a slightly different question. Am I correct in my understanding that Senator Higgins wants me to interpret …

I trust-----

I trust the Attorney General will give me the necessary advice to make provision for whatever I am doing, as regards ensuring a full set is in the archive. We can make provision for that in the Long Title as well.

I will speak to amendments Nos. 25 and 27 first. I understand the desire and need for an index of the evidence and the records. This has been considered as part of the commission's investigation. We contacted the commission and asked for clarification of what it is doing. An index is referred to in its terms of reference. As part of its final report, the commission has compiled a complete listing of all the sources used in completing its report. This listing is more than 80 pages long and will form part of its fina…

I have not yet responded to Senator Bacik's queries. Senator Warfield asked about the timeline for receipt of the commission's report. I cannot give a timeline until we get it. Several procedural requirements under section 38 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 must be met. The Office of the Attorney General must go through the report, as will my Department. There is an option to refer to the Garda Commissioner if necessary. It will then be brought to the Government, which will agree on publication. For my…

I hear where Senators are coming from. Probably our earlier debate on amendment No. 2 and the discussion about the appropriateness, or otherwise, of the confidential committee and the rules around that reveal the shortcomings - and "shortcomings" is far too light a phrase to use - of using the commission of investigation model to examine an issue of such great impact on so many people and took place over such a longer period of time. I mean no disrespect to the three commissioners who have worked incredibly hard. N…

Like the other speakers, I take on board the sentiment of what Senator Higgins has been saying. We have spoken about an arrow to a future direction and I have provided plenty of arrows in my contributions today and earlier in the week. I would like not to be fettered by the sort of time period mentioned because it is very tight. I would also like not to be fettered in respect of mother and baby homes because, as Senator Bacik has said, the issue of the need for information and tracing is essential for those in moth…

I will not hold colleagues long; I know it has been a long day. I thank them for the detailed consideration they gave to the legislation. I hope they feel that today's discussions have led to an improvement in it. As a result of our discussions today and earlier this week, I will be introducing in the Dáil an amendment to deal with the issue of the agency and people who gave testimony before the confidential committee as regards whether they want those stories anonymised. I have also made a commitment to introduce …

Ireland's history is sadly littered with a legacy of failings related to the care of our most vulnerable citizens in institutional settings. Previously, the State has ordered investigations into specific institutional settings and shone a light on the pain and anguish experienced by people who found themselves in these institutions through no fault of their own. In 2015, the Government established the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters to comprehensively examine the e…

I thank all of the Senators for their detailed and heartfelt contributions today and in some of the earlier consultations they have had with my Department. The debate we have had demonstrates the complexities and sensitivities touched on by this Bill and the wider legacy issues arising from our past and the treatment of certain categories of people, particularly women, in that time. I have heard the dissatisfaction that Senators have voiced about the process. The sole reason this has been done in a rapid fashion is…

This is not solely a matter for history. We have spoken about this in a historical context but we must remember that there are existing issues of deep concern for many people who have lived through the experiences of the mother and baby homes and other industrial schools and the impact this has had on their relatives and descendants. I reassure the people who are watching this debate and have real and legitimate anxieties about future access to birth information and tracing that I am committed to addressing the lon…

I am sharing time with Deputy McAuliffe. I am very pleased to outline the key elements of budget 2021 for my Department, which has responsibility for children, disability, equality, integration and youth. It has received an additional €121 million, bringing the total investment for 2021 to €1.95 billion. In the budget unveiled yesterday, one can see the impact of the Green Party in government. It included a carbon tax that protects the most disadvantaged, €100 million additional funding for disability services, sup…

I move: (1) THAT for the purposes of the tax charged by virtue of section 95 of the Finance Act 1999 (No. 2 of 1999), that Act be amended, with effect as on and from 14 October 2020— (a) in section 96(1B), by substituting “A is the amount to be charged per tonne of CO2 emitted, being €33.50 in the case of petrol, aviation gasoline, and heavy oil used as a propellant or for air navigation or for private pleasure navigation, and €26 in the case of each other description of mineral oil in Schedule 2A” for “A is the am…

I thank the Deputies who contributed. I agree with Deputy Howlin, in that supporting the implementation of the carbon tax is the acid test of our seriousness as a country in tackling climate change. Over the course of the next ten years, the carbon tax's application will help us to achieve 15% of our CO2 emission cuts compared with a situation where we did not apply it. Deputies have made valid points regarding the importance of seeing that the carbon tax is implemented in a progressive way where its revenue is use…

It will finance a range of important and targeted social protection interventions,-----