In Ireland, Commissions of Investigation are established under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004.
The Commission of Investigation was the principal recommendation of a Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders.
The Scoping Inquiry was established by the Minister for Education and Youth in response to revelations of allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, following the broadcast of an RTÉ Documentary on One programme, Blackrock Boys. It was independently led by Mary O’Toole S.C., who is Senior Legal Advisor to the Commission.
The Report of the Scoping Inquiry indicated that the potential scale of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders may be very significant. It also recommended that the Commission of Investigation’s remit be expanded to include all day and boarding schools. This reflected the wishes of survivors who participated in the Scoping Inquiry.
As a result, the Commission’s remit is significantly broader than that of the Scoping Inquiry, which focused only on schools run by religious orders. The Commission will examine how allegations and concerns of child sexual abuse were handled in schools in Ireland between 1927 and 2013, selecting sample cases for further legal investigation.