Laws to allow for the exhumation of remains in Tuam are unlikely to pass before the next General Election
The Government cannot say when the process of exhuming the remains of hundreds of children buried in the former Tuam mother and baby home will begin.
Children's Minister Katherine Zappone has said new laws to allow for the excavation, exhumation and re-interment of the remains at the Co Galway site are unlikely to pass before the next General Election.
The legislation which was brought to Cabinet is not confined to Tuam and will also authorise interventions of a similar nature to take place at current or former institutional sites if it is deemed necessary in specific circumstances.
It is believed that up to 800 babies and children could have been buried in a mass grave on the site after excavations uncovered an underground structure divided into 20 chambers containing “significant quantities of human remains”.
The Sisters of Bon Secours Ireland will transfer €2.5m towards the work, which is expected to cost between €6m and €13m.
The drafting of this legislation is a priority for me. I know family members of the children interred at the site in Tuam have been eagerly awaiting this development & agreement on a General Scheme marks a milestone to afford those buried there the dignity & respect they deserve https://t.co/IbmeLJZMJE
— Katherine Zappone (@k_zappone) December 10, 2019
Asked if she thought the order had contributed enough, Ms Zappone said: "They offered a fixed sum upfront for €2.5m. In my initial communication with them I asked them to consider more. They don't have a legal obligation to contribute more but I argued that I believe that perhaps they would consider that they have an ethical obligation to do so.
"They have indicated that this is a sole contribution to the work in Tuam. That's not to say that they cannot change their mind in the future."
Ms Zappone said she is unable to say when work on the Tuam site will begin and suggested it could be well into 2020 before the required legislation passes.
"It's still going to take some time. It's very hard to estimate how long that is, but I established a separate unit within my department with a couple of people dedicated solely to this work a number of months ago and I hope that that demonstrates our sense of urgency," she said.
Ms Zappone apologised to the relatives for the delay adding:
I very much accept the fact that there is a sense of urgency for the families. I've also been told that this is a complicated matter.
She said there have been a number of "difficult issues" as the Bill had to include details of how excavation will be carried out but will also take in the establishment of a separate temporary agency to oversee the process.
The General Scheme of the Certain Institutional Burials (Authorised Interventions) Bill 2019 will provide a legal basis to carry out a programme of phased, forensic standard excavation, exhumation and re-interment of remains at the site of the former Mother and Baby Home in Tuam.
It will also allow for forensic analysis of any recovered remains, providing for samples to be taken from the remains as well as from family members of the deceased for the purpose of identification of the remains.
