Mother and baby home inquiry terms in new year

The terms of reference for the mother-and-baby home inquiry will be published following the first Cabinet meeting in the new year.

A spokesperson for Children’s Minister Dr James Reilly said to allow the “requisite space for debate” on the issue, the terms of reference, which had been promised before the Christmas recess, would now be brought to Cabinet for agreement on January 8. A Dáil debate on the inquiry would take place the following week.

Dr Reilly has been meeting with advocacy groups in recent weeks and says he is “confident” the inquiry will be as “inclusive as possible” and have the support of “those most centrally involved”.