From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman, has today published a call for expressions of interest to serve on the Advisory Board to the Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam.
Last month the Minister appointed Daniel Mac Sweeney as the Director who will head up the independent Office established under the Institutional Burials Act 2022 to oversee the important and highly sensitive intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution in Tuam.
The Minister is now seeking expressions of interest from people interested in serving on the Advisory Board which will provide support and guidance to the Director in his work. The Board will comprise a former resident of the Tuam institution, a family member of someone believed to be buried at the site, persons with relevant scientific expertise, and a chairperson with coronial expertise. The Tuam Director will be required to consult with the Advisory Board at regular intervals, including at key decision points in the intervention.
Speaking today Minister O’Gorman said:
“I am pleased to launch this call for expressions of interest. The Board’s advice, which will draw on a range of expertise and experience, including from a family member and former resident, will be a strong support to the Director over the course of the intervention in Tuam.
"I would encourage people with the relevant experience or background to submit an expression of interest in relation to the positions advertised in the call.”
Further information and application forms in respect of each of the positions can be found at the links below:
The Institutional Burials Act 2022, which came into effect on 15 July 2022, provides the underlying legislative basis for an intervention, whereby the remains of those who died in residential institutions, in respect of which a public body has or had a relevant role, and who were buried in a manifestly inappropriate manner, may be recovered and re-interred in a respectful and appropriate way.
Last October the government made an Order, under the Institutional Burials Act 2022, to direct the establishment of an independent Office to lead an intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution at Tuam. The making of the Order followed on from Resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad in September approving the draft Order that was agreed by Government in July.
On 20 March this year the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth formally established the Office of the Director of Authorised Intervention. On 22 May he appointed Mr Daniel Mac Sweeney as Director of Authorised Intervention, Tuam to oversee the intervention at the site of the former Mother and Baby Institution, Tuam, Co. Galway.
In line with the provisions of the Institutional Burials Act 2022 the Minister is appointing an Advisory Board to provide guidance and advice to the Director. The Board will consist of the following members:
1) A chairperson who is a former coroner or someone with coronial expertise
2) 2 members having scientific expertise
3) A member being a person who is a member of staff of the local authority in which the principal burial land is located, nominated by the Minister for Housing, Local Authority and Heritage
4) A member being a person who considers that he or she is a family member of a deceased person believed to be buried in the principal burial land
5) A member being a former resident of the institution
The call for expressions of interest is for the positions of Chairperson, scientific experts, family member and former resident.
The member of staff of Galway County Council will be nominated by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in line with the provisions of the legislation.