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	Minister for Children Charlie Flanagan has announced a Commission of Inquiry with full statutory powers into all mother and baby homes.</p>
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	Minister Flanagan said the investigation would establish the truth about what happened in all mother and baby homes across the country.</p>
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	He hoped the inquiry would also investigate allegations of forced adoption and controversial vaccine trials carried out on children without their mother&rsquo;s permission.</p>
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	&ldquo;It is my hope and determination that all these issues are dealt with in a way that is comprehensive,&rdquo; he said.</p>
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	The move follows weeks of controversy after the discovery of an alleged mass grave containing the remains of almost 800 babies in Tuam, Co Galway.</p>
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	Mr Flanagan said he was hoping the commission would have cross-party support.</p>
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	Speaking to RTE Radio One he said: &ldquo;I will be actively seeking consensus from across the political spectrum.&rdquo;</p>
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	Fianna Fail children&rsquo;s spokesman Robert Troy welcomed the Commission of Inquiry and said it should be &ldquo;above party politics&rdquo;.</p>
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	Mr Troy said women who were residents in State homes &ldquo;have nothing to be ashamed of&rdquo; and their right to anonymity should be respected should they come forward to speak with an inquiry.</p>
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	Adoption Rights Alliance co-founder Susan Lohan also welcomed the Commission of Inquiry.</p>
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	&ldquo;On the face of it, it&rsquo;s certainly looking good,&rdquo; she told RTE Radio 1.</p>
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	&ldquo;We are particularly interested in forced adoptions and illegal adoptions. The timeliness and the scope are the two most important things here.&quot;</p>
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	The terms of reference of the inquiry will be determined by an inter-departmental review which will report to Cabinet by June 30.</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/childrens-minister-announces-commission-of-inquiry-with-full-statutory-powers-into-all-mother-and-baby-homes-30343251.html">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/childrens-minister-announces-commission-of-inquiry-with-full-statutory-powers-into-all-mother-and-baby-homes-30343251.html</a></p>
