Sinn Féin seeks Dáil debate on baby deaths

Deaths and burials of children at mother-and-baby homes will be debated in the Dáil this week amid mounting demands for a full inquiry into the operation of such facilities.

Sinn Féin has tabled a two-day debate under private members business and will demand that the Government initiate a full inquiry into the operation of such homes.

It comes amid calls for an inquiry into the former Bon Secours sisters institution in Tuam, Co Galway, where there are concerns that hundreds of infants were buried in a mass grave.

Gerry Adams’ party will call on the Government on Wednesday to initiate a fully independent judicial inquiry, with terms of reference agreed by the Houses of the Oireachtas.

It wants an inquiry to consider the care regime that was in place for children at homes, the infant mortality rates and the burial of children in unmarked graves at all mother and baby homes in the State.

Party TDs will look to broaden the focus of attention on such homes and say practices which occurred at Tuam home were replicated in similar institutions across Ireland, including at Bethany Home, in Dublin.

It wants the Government to set a date for the establishment of a full inquiry before the Dáil summer recess and for all reports to be published.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald last week announced an interdepartmental review of the high death rate at the Tuam home, where some 796 infants reportedly died over 36 years. The review will be complete by the end of June.

It can be widened to include other institutions, Taoiseach Enda Kenny later said.

Gardaí have agreed to contribute to the review but as of yet have not indicated any criminal investigation will proceed into circumstances surrounding how infants were treated or buried at Tuam.

President Michael D Higgins on Friday said that he was “appalled” at reports about the Tuam site and that questions needed to be answered.

The President added: “What is important is all of the questions which are provoked by this are answered, and they are answered adequately with the assistance of science and forensics.”