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Advisory Council
This page contains information about the Advisory Council which will be established to support the work of the Special Advocate for Survivors.
The response of Government must be directly informed by the voices of those most directly affected.
What is the Advisory Council
Since her appointment at the end of March 2024, Patricia has spent her time meeting and engaging with Survivors and Affected Persons, various Survivor groups, as well as with partner and support organisations in Ireland and overseas working directly with those affected by institutional abuse and forced family separation.
Now that the initial round of engagements with Survivors has concluded, the Special Advocate is seeking to establish an Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council will further ensure that the work of the Special Advocate is informed by the lived experience and needs of those most centrally affected.
How will the Advisory Council be structured?
The Special Advocate for Survivors will establish 7 pillars as part of the Advisory Council supporting her work. Each pillar will represent a specific area of institutional abuse and/or forced family separation.
- PILLAR 1: People who spent time in Industrial School and Reformatory Institutions
- PILLAR 2: People who spent time in Magdalene Laundries
- PILLAR 3: Mothers who spent time in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions, or who experienced forced family separation though other settings
- PILLAR 4: People who were born in or who spent time in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions and related institutions, or who experienced forced family separation through other settings
- PILLAR 5: People who were Boarded Out or Fostered
- PILLAR 6: People whose births were illegally registered
- PILLAR 7: People living overseas who spent time in an institution covered under the Special Advocate’s remit, or who experienced forced family separation
It is important to note that people submitting an Expression of Interest for the Advisory Council may have experience of time spent in many institutions.
What will the Advisory Council do?
The Advisory Council will explore key themes of collective concern for Survivors and Affected Persons, such as the key issues raised with Patricia in her first year:
- Records
- Redress
- Supports and Services for Survivors – Health and Housing
- Memorialisation and Dignified Burial
Each pillar will focus on identifying key concerns and shared issues, hearing updates, and developing recommendations.
It will not be the role of the Advisory Council to discuss or review any individual issues, concerns or individual matters.
Please also note that the work of the Advisory Council and its outputs will be shared publicly, via the Special Advocate office.
How will the Advisory Council work?
The Advisory Council members will be made up of people with direct and lived experience of non-recent institutional abuse and forced family separation, in accordance with the remit of the Special Advocate.
- Up to 5 people will be appointed to each pillar.
- Members of the Advisory Council will be appointed for one year, with an option for an extension of the term.
- Each pillar will meet up to three times per year.
- All pillars will also be invited participate in an in-person meeting of all Advisory Council members once a year.
Selection Process to the Advisory Council
The Special Advocate for Survivors and another independent person will review Expressions of Interest to the Advisory Council and will select members of the Advisory Council pillars.
Selection Criteria for the Advisory Council
- It is important that the Special Advocate’s Advisory Council has people with different types of skills and experience.
- The preference for membership of the Advisory Council will be that people have had direct and lived experience of institutional abuse or forced family separation, in accordance with the remit of the Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse.
- Successful Applicants will need to prepare for and participate in meetings and Advisory Council activities. The meeting schedule will be agreed with the Special Advocate and members.
- Successful Applicants will commit to be respectful and supportive in their interactions on the Advisory Council, ensuring that every member has an equal opportunity to participate, speak and share their views.
- The Special Advocate is keen to ensure that marginalised or under-represented voices are encouraged to apply.
- The Special Advocate also encourages ‘new voices’ who have not had the opportunity to contribute to Survivor consultations in the past, to apply.
Supports
The Special Advocate office is committed to providing assistance and supports for those who may need additional supports in order to participate in the Advisory Council, where reasonable.
Other Survivor Representation opportunities
A number of other opportunities are available for Survivor and Affected Person
representation on key engagement structures, namely:
- National Centre for Research and Remembrance – Steering Group (4 positions)
- National Centre for Research and Remembrance – National Museum of Ireland Lived Experience Experts Panels (ongoing opportunities)
More information about these opportunities can be found on the National Centre for Research and Remembrance website: Survivor Representation on Key Engagement Structures and via the links below.
How can I apply to the Special Advocate Advisory Council?
Anyone who is interested in these opportunities should complete the Expression of Interest Form below. Applications are open until 19 September 2025.
Forms can be submitted in the following ways:
- By Email to nationalcentre@dcde.gov.ie or
- By Post to Survivor Engagement Structures, C/O Block 1, Miesian Plaza, 50-58 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XWI4, Freepost F5055.
People can express an interest in more than one position, if they wish to do so.
Questions and Further Information
If you have any questions, need any assistance in completing the Expression of Interest form, or require further information relating to the Advisory Council, please contact the Special Advocate team.
By Email: advisorycouncil@specialadvocate.ie
By Phone: +353 (0)1 511 7660
By Post: Special Advocate for Survivors of Institutional Abuse, First Floor, Holbrook House, Holles Street, Dublin 2, D02 EY84, Ireland