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Commission of Investigation into South East foster home - Lynch

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Minister Lynch speaking to the media this evening

A Commission of Investigation is the be established into events at a foster home in the South East.

Primary Care Minister Kathleen Lynch made the announcement this evening: 

We need to be precise and focussed on the questions that remain unanswered. I strongly believe it is in the public interest that we establish the facts surrounding vulnerable people who were placed in this foster home. 

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Joan Burton met this evening to discuss the proposal from Ministers Varadkar and Lynch to establish the Commission. Both Ministers will attend cabinet tomorrow to outline the proposals.

The Commission will build on work already underway by Mr Conor Dignam SC, with additional resources approved to allow him to expedite his ongoing review. It's expected this will be completed by the end of April 2016.

Together with Health Minister Leo Varadkar, Minister Lynch attended a meeting with the HSE this afternoon. Minister Lynch said of the meeting: 

It is clear that there have been failures in protecting vulnerable people in our care. For a number of reasons, it has been difficult to establish the facts with certainty. This has been acknowledged and I am confident that through the Commission of Investigation we can resolve this. While this is very much in the public interest, it is also in the interest of those vulnerable people who are directly affected and their families.

For more information read the press release here.