Victims of abuse have welcomed the news that a Ryan-style inquiry
into historical institutional abuse in the North may take place.
The terms of reference of any such inquiry will be made known in the
autumn, after ministers consult with abuse victims over the Assembly's
summer recess.
However, the probe is expected to cover all care homes and
institutions in the North rather than singling out Catholic
institutions.
Margaret McGuckin of campaign group Survivors and Victims of
Institutional Abuse has welcomed the news, saying victims have ''waited
decades'' for the news.
''We welcome this latest commitment that key decisions are now only a couple of months away,'' she said.
''We want a fully independent public inquiry into past abuses suffered by children in institutions across Northern Ireland.
''We want counselling and other services put in place for victims.
And we want a public apology for what was done to us,'' she said.
Junior ministers Jonathan Bell and Martina Anderson are to meet with
former residents of care homes and other institutions during the summer
break, after which the North's Executive will make a decision about
establishing an inquiry.