# Commission

Last month

February 2023

Ireland fares worst at managing protected nature sites in new EU report

A report by

Niall Sargent

Out of 10 countries, Ireland underperformed in every measure aimed at protecting at-risk species such as the curlew and corncrake.

Report examined the effectiveness of measures to protect vulnerable species in Special Protection Areas (SPAs)

No Irish case had targeted, measurable and time-bound conservation measures to deliver the favourable status of species

"Incomplete and/or irregular” monitoring of many species also found

11.9k

Feb 2nd 2023, 12:05 AM

Last year

2022

# review scrapped

Mother and Baby Homes: Some consequences - like testimonies - are more important than others

Nearly two years after the Commission of Investigation published its final report, survivors are still being ignored, Órla Ryan writes.

18.5k

Oct 8th 2022, 8:30 AM

# peat sake

Commission warns Ireland over ‘stalled’ action to halt extraction in protected peatlands

The State has two months to act or potentially face legal action before the European Court of Justice.

9.4k

Sep 30th 2022, 11:53 AM

# Investigation

Commission finds sale of Siteserv approved in good faith but was based on 'misleading' information

A Dáil debate is now being arranged on the findings of the report.

13.9k

Sep 7th 2022, 3:38 PM

# boarded out

'This will haunt the Government': Call for extension of MBH redress, or for new Commission to be held

“If you don’t want to compensate people for violating their human rights, don’t violate their human rights.”

12.9k

Mar 6th 2022, 7:00 AM

# Commission

Long-awaited report finds Ireland's Defence Forces in need of 'transformational change'

The Minister for Defence said the report proposes “significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland”.

24.2k

Updated

Feb 9th 2022, 1:35 PM

All time

# Commission

Taoiseach rules out reopening redress scheme for mother and baby home survivors

A High Court ruling that found the Commission of Investigation acted unlawfully by denying fair procedure to survivors prompted calls for a review.

16.2k

Dec 31st 2021, 10:01 AM

# Philomena Lee

'We've been totally vindicated': State admits rights of Mother & Baby Home survivors were breached

“It’s been such a battle but we’ve been totally vindicated, that’s the most important thing. This time our voices have been heard in terms of justice.”

Today's settlement has been described as a "significant victory" for Philomena Lee and Mary Harney, Órla Ryan reports

The State has admitted the women are identifiable in the Commission's report and should have been given a right to reply

"We’ve been totally vindicated ... This time our voices have been heard in terms of justice," Harney said

38.1k

Updated

Dec 17th 2021, 4:55 PM

# mother-and-baby homes

'She had no choice': High Court told Philomena Lee did not consent to her son being adopted

Ruling in Mother and Baby Home cases could have “very dramatic consequences” on how future commissions operate, High Court told.

36.3k

Updated

Nov 18th 2021, 6:45 PM

# mother and baby homes

'Gardaí returned women who escaped': Philomena Lee & Mary Harney challenge Commission in High Court

The women are seeking to have elements of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes quashed.

53.5k

Updated

Nov 17th 2021, 5:10 PM

# Commission

Mother and Baby Homes: High Court to hear cases as Philomena Lee and others challenge report

The cases are being brought by high-profile survivors Philomena Lee and Mary Harney.

11.0k

Nov 17th 2021, 6:00 AM

# Commission

Mother and Baby Homes: 34,000 survivors eligible for compensation in €800m redress scheme

The Cabinet signed off on the details of a long-awaited redress scheme today.

31.4k

Nov 16th 2021, 2:13 PM

# Vaccine Trials

Vomiting and fever among side effects experienced by children who took part in GSK trials

The pharma company has today published information about nine trials it carried out in Irish institutions between 1934 and 1973.

52.3k

Sep 1st 2021, 2:18 PM

# forced adoption

Woman's signature forged on letter saying nuns from Mother and Baby Home 'deserve a medal'

The survivor saw the letter, written in 1980, for the first time last month.

The survivor saw the letter, written in 1980, for the first time last month, Órla Ryan reports

"I think ye should all be presented with a medal for your fantastic work," the letter states

The woman believes her late mother wrote the letter praising the nuns, pretending to be her

57.5k

Jul 31st 2021, 12:05 AM

# Judicial review

Mother and Baby Homes: Two test cases to be heard by High Court later this year

The cases, being brought by Philomena Lee and Mary Harney, will be heard in late October or November.

The cases, being brought by Philomena Lee and Mary Harney, will be heard in late October or November, Órla Ryan reports

A third test case, involving Mari Steed, may also proceed at a later date

Eight women are seeking judicial reviews of the Commission of Investigation's final report

26.9k

Updated

Jul 27th 2021, 11:57 AM

# alternate report

O'Gorman 'welcomes' new report that contradicts findings of Mother and Baby Home Commission

A new report has found “significant evidence” of inhuman treatment and forced adoptions in Mother and Baby Homes.

26.2k

Updated

Jul 12th 2021, 4:20 PM

# terri harrison

'The Irish Handmaid's Tale': Mother and Baby Home survivor says reality was worse than fiction

“We were just like machines for them, they definitely dehumanised us.”

23.6k

Jun 19th 2021, 9:00 AM

# Kathleen Funchion

Committee 'disappointed' by commissioners' refusal to attend meeting but 'accepts it'

The Oireachtas Children’s Committee will work “very closely with the minister and the department regarding the next steps”.

8.5k

Jun 15th 2021, 4:13 PM

# GDPR

'Rape' and 'incest' listed as 'current relationship status' options on Commission form

A survivor’s daughter says the approach is “incomprehensible” and raises “serious questions”.

A survivor's daughter says the approach is "incomprehensible" and raises "serious questions"

The woman's form is "littered with inaccuracies" and "in no way" captures her suffering

"In what world is rape or incest a relationship status?"

105k

Jun 13th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Commission

'I am fuming, it's so disrespectful': Survivors react to commissioners' refusal to appear before Oireachtas

‘What the nuns said was sacrosanct, whereas our trauma was dismissed as stories’

Mother and Baby Home survivors say recent developments have silenced them all over again, Órla Ryan reports

One of the women taking legal action against the Commission's findings says she will continue to fight for justice

The commissioners have refused the latest invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Children's Committee

19.4k

Jun 12th 2021, 12:10 AM

# questions and no answers

Varadkar says refusal by Mother and Baby Homes commissioners to face Oireachtas is 'deeply regrettable'

The committee members found out about the refusal in the media.

A first invitation was sent in February and a second in June

Both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste have urged the commissioners to answer questions

Oireachtas committee members unaware of the invite refusal until after the letter was reported

40.0k

Updated

Jun 11th 2021, 8:02 PM

Voices

'Painfully visible shortcomings': Catriona Crowe on the problems with the Mother and Baby Home Commission

Catriona Crowe examines the Commission’s report, details its shortcomings and issues, and explains what needs to happen next.

12.3k

Jun 9th 2021, 10:47 AM

# Roderic O'Gorman

Minister tells survivors he believes them as opposition call report 'whitewashed fiction'

Roderic O’Gorman has told survivors that the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was not prohibited from using their testimony.

Roderic O'Gorman has told survivors that the Commission into Mother and Baby Homes was not prohibited from using their testimony

"For my own part, I want to be clear - you are believed," the minister said

Survivors and relatives have said the latest revelations are "insulting" and "dehumanising", Órla Ryan writes

19.5k

Updated

Jun 8th 2021, 9:50 PM

Voices

Kathleen Funchion: 'I fear the Mother and Baby Home developments have only compounded an existing and deep hurt'

Funchion, who is chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Children, describes her shock over recent issues with the Mother and Baby Home Commission.

7.5k

Jun 3rd 2021, 6:35 PM

# Legal Action

How legal threats and the Ryan Commission's legacy impacted Mother and Baby Home inquiry

The potential legal action of survivors – which has become a reality in several cases – was seemingly not given the same consideration as legal action from religious orders.

The potential legal action of survivors was seemingly not given the same consideration as legal action from religious orders, Órla Ryan writes

The Ryan Commission into child abuse continues to impact how we treat survivors of institutional abuse, a human rights lawyer has argued

There is mounting pressure for the commissioners to appear before the Oireachtas

17.0k

Jun 3rd 2021, 5:53 PM

# Mary Daly

'Yet another blow to survivors': Women get few answers as Commissioner defends report

A number of Mother and Baby Home survivors finally got to hear from a Commissioner today – it did not go to plan.

Commissioner defends Mother and Baby Home report in first public comments, saying 'ultra legal' approach was needed

'My view is we've done a job and, basically, let's let others go and take it further,' Professor Mary Daly said

The evidence given by hundreds of survivors to the Confidential Committee was essentially discounted, Órla Ryan writes

45.6k

Jun 2nd 2021, 9:51 PM

# Safety

New media regulator needs powers to order ‘swift takedown’ of harmful content

The deputy Data Protection Commissioner said the new media commission has to be able to regulate all types of harmful online content.

11.5k

May 5th 2021, 10:15 PM

# Abuse

Drew Harris says Mother and Baby Home crimes 'difficult to prosecute' despite reports of rape and incest

An Garda Síochána has found “insufficient evidence” in the Commission’s report to start any criminal investigations.

17.7k

Updated

Apr 29th 2021, 5:55 PM

# High Court

Philomena Lee among women taking legal action against findings in Mother and Baby Home report

Lee’s life story was made into an award-winning film, Philomena, in 2013.

70.1k

Updated

Apr 12th 2021, 3:40 PM

# Redress

'Pay us and acknowledge what happened': Mother and baby home survivors want compensation and a remembrance day

Some survivors have also called on the government to take legal action against the religious orders who ran the institutions if they refuse to pay financial compensation.

28.6k

Apr 4th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Commission

'I spent 28 years wondering where my child was, they were 45 minutes down the road'

A number of survivors of mother and baby homes have raised concerns about how their requests for personal files are being dealt with by the Department of Children.

96.4k

Mar 20th 2021, 8:00 AM

# mother-and-baby homes

'If the Commission dissolves tomorrow, we'll be denied justice': Survivor says testimony was 'misrepresented'

One survivor says her experience was “misrepresented” to a “shocking extent” in the final report by the Commission into Mother and Baby Homes.

8.8k

Feb 27th 2021, 9:30 AM

# deleted tapes

O'Gorman says there is 'no meaningful reason' to extend Mother and Baby Homes Commission

The minister noted that members of the commission “can’t be compelled to come before the Oireachtas”.

8.1k

Feb 26th 2021, 3:02 PM

# mother-and-baby homes

TDs ask how testimony 'miraculously appeared down back of sofa', as time runs out to extend Commission

A Social Democrats’ motion to extend the commission’s term by one year had broad support but is non-binding and is not being acted on by government.

33.4k

Updated

Feb 24th 2021, 4:37 PM

# deleted audio

TDs still pushing for extension of Mother and Baby Homes Commission despite 'miraculous' recovery of testimony

The commission is due to dissolve on 28 February but a number of TDs want its term extended amid concerns over deleted audio recordings.

14.8k

Feb 24th 2021, 6:05 AM

# deleted audio

Call for TDs to get free vote on extension of Mother and Baby Homes Commission

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore said the issue “goes beyond party politics”.

6.5k

Feb 22nd 2021, 2:53 PM

# Testimony

O'Gorman says Mother and Baby Homes Commission *may* be able to retrieve recordings

“We all know how difficult it is to permanently destroy electronic information,” the minister said today.

21.2k

Updated

Feb 19th 2021, 3:10 PM

# Commission

Audio recordings of Mother and Baby Home testimony 'cannot be retrieved', O'Gorman confirms

The minister said the Commission informed him of the latest development today.

33.3k

Updated

Feb 16th 2021, 6:44 PM

# Commission

County home survivor told to contact police in England, not gardaí, over destruction of testimony

A number of witnesses have contacted the gardaí and Data Protection Commissioner to date.

46.0k

Feb 16th 2021, 12:00 PM

# Commission

'A nun poured urine on my head because I snored': Survivors contact DPC and gardaí over destruction of testimony

People who spent time in Mother and Baby Homes and County Homes say they have been “re-traumatised” by recent developments.

57.8k

Updated

Feb 9th 2021, 12:05 AM