Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters was established by Government in 2015 to provide a full account of what happened to women and children in these homes during the period 1922 to 1998. The terms of reference for the Commission were set out in the order establishing the Commission, SI No.57 of 2015.

The scope of the Commission's remit was broad, and included several specific areas of practice and procedure in the care, welfare, entry arrangements and exit pathways for the women and children who were residents of the named 14 institutions and a representative sample of County identified for investigation.

The Commission was independent in the conduct of its investigations and comprised of Judge Yvonne Murphy (Chair), Dr William Duncan, and Professor Mary E Daly. The Commission was dissolved on 28 February 2021. The Commission's website was decommissioned on 11 March 2021. The department has archived content from the site at Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation.

The Commission produced 7 Interim Reports. You can access all of them at Interim Reports of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters.

The Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes Final Report is available at Final Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes

Further information is available at Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes Final Report | Your questions answered (12 January 2021)

If you are seeking hard copies of Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes Final Report please go to Availability of Hard Copies of Mother and Baby Homes Final Report.

“A number of survivors do not accept the accounts given in the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation as a true and full reflection of the oral and documentary evidence they gave to the Confidential Committee or the Commission of Investigation. In particular, the accuracy of the following paragraphs is not accepted by survivors who believe the paragraphs in question relate to them or the evidence they gave:-

Executive Summary: second italicized prologue paragraph; paragraphs 8, 11, 15, 244, 245, 248, 250 to 259.

Recommendations: paragraphs 19, 22, 23, 26, 27, 29 to 33, 35, 39, 52

Boarding Out Chapter: paragraphs 11.141, 11.142 and 11.145

Bessborough Chapter: footnote 78; 18.304, 18.309, and 18.395

Sean Ross Chapter: paragraphs 19.195 – 19.203

Adoptions Chapter: paragraph 32.3, 32.167, 32.298

Vaccine Trials: 34.77 to 34.79

Human Rights: paragraphs 36.80 and 36.81

Report of the Confidential Committee: pages 38 (penultimate paragraph); 89 (fourth and fifth paragraphs); 90 (first and second paragraphs); 134 (first two paragraphs); 164 (last two paragraphs); 165 (first paragraph).

Had survivors been furnished with drafts of extracts of the report they would have had the opportunity to request the Commission to correct statements that survivors believe to be wrong. The Minister acknowledges that because draft extracts were not furnished, survivors did not have that opportunity.”

In the light of the evidence given by the applicants to the court, the Minister has consented to the following:-

A declaration that the Commission, by failing to provide the applicant, who is identifiable in the final report, with a draft of the Report, or the relevant part of the draft of the Report, as required by section 34(1) of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 prior to submitting the final report to the Minister, acted in breach of statutory duty."

For information relating to the Collaborative Forum for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes and those with comparable experiences in a County Home see the Mother and Baby Home Collaborative Forum.

For all statements, Ministerial speeches and press releases relating to Mother and Baby homes see the statements, speeches and press releases.

For the department's updates on issues relating to Mother and Baby Homes, see Updates on Issues Relating to Mother and Baby Homes.

Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), Information and Tracing services can be accessed at here.