The Clann Project has repeatedly asked the State to ensure that survivors and affected people are represented on boards that govern matters directly affecting them. Therefore, Clann welcomes the Government’s recent call to survivors and affected people, encouraging them to apply for ‘representation opportunities’ on the National Centre for Research and Remembrance (NCRR) Steering Group, the National Museum of Ireland’s ‘Lived Experience expert panels’ for the NCRR, and the Special Advocate for Survivors Advisory Council. 

If you are interested in applying to become a member of one or more of the above committees, you can find the Government’s ‘Expression of Interest Form’ here. The application process will remain open until 19th September 2025.

If you are unable to complete the form electronically and do not have access to a printer, we encourage you to contact the Department’s ‘Mother and Baby Institutions Action Plan Unit’ at motherandbabyhomes@dcde.gov.ie and ask them to send you a printed copy.

Clann also welcomes the Government’s use of the term ‘survivors and affected persons’. We advocate for the use of ‘affected people’ or ‘survivors and affected people’ in lieu of the term ‘survivors’ when referring to the overall cohort of people impacted by Ireland’s system of forced family separation and institutionalisation, because we are concerned that use of the collective term ‘survivor’ runs the risk of: (i) reinforcing the false narrative that abuses were perpetrated in institutional settings only; (ii) excluding people who were not born in Mother and Baby or County institutions; (iii) excluding mothers who did not give birth in Mother and Baby or County institutions; and (iv) excluding people who do not identify as ‘survivors’.

Importantly, how a person identifies has no bearing on whether human rights violations occurred—institutionalisation and forced family separation are abusive regardless of a person’s preferred terms. It is crucial to ensure that nobody is left behind and that everyone impacted by this system feels represented in matters directly affecting them.

Finally, Clann is concerned that survivors and affected people are still not represented on other boards and committees, such as the steering group for the upcoming review of the Birth (Information and Tracing) Act, and the board of the Adoption Authority.