The Government's Commission on Childhood Abuse could take up to two years to complete its work, the commission's secretary said yesterday.
The commission, chaired by Ms Justice Laffoy, has taken legal advice as it considers its terms of reference and examines what powers it will require to meet its objectives.
Among the issues it will have to decide will be the legal powers it requires on issues such as the privilege and compellability of witnesses. It is expected to report back to the Government in the coming weeks on the statutory powers it requires to underpin its work.
The Government has already committed itself to enacting the necessary legislation without delay.
As part of the commission's terms of reference, its primary focus will be to provide victims with an opportunity to tell of the abuse they suffered in a sympathetic and experienced forum.
In addition, the commission will establish as complete a picture as possible of the causes, nature and extent of physical and sexual abuse of children in institutions and other places. It will also make recommendations as it sees fit.
The commission secretary, Mr Paul Doyle, said yesterday this work could take up to two years to complete. The duration would depend greatly on the number of people who came forward to give evidence.
"We are determined to see everyone who has been through the system of industrial schools and suffered, and want to tell their story," Mr Doyle said. "We are very determined to facilitate all those who wish to come forward."
The co-founder of Association for Healing of Victims of Institutional Abuse, Ms Christine Buckley, believes there are so many people who will want to give evidence that it could take the commission between 21/2 and three years to complete its work.
Between 65,000 and 70,000 people were placed in orphanages since the 1920s, she noted. Of these, in the region of 45,000 people were still alive.
The commission is expected to begin taking evidence later this year. In an attempt to make it as convenient as possible for people to give evidence, the commission plans to organise a series of regional sittings, Mr Doyle said.
New guidelines for schools on procedures for dealing with allegations or suspicions of child abuse will be issued by the Department of Education before the end of the year. The current guidelines were first issued in 1991 and contain information on how to recognise signs of abuse, how to report a suspicion, the legal position for teachers and confidentiality. Both primary and secondary schools will receive the new guidelines.