The appointment of the advisory board follows the appointment in May of solicitor Daniel Mac Sweeney as the director of authorised intervention at Tuam under the Institutional Burials Act 2022.

The advisory board will provide support and guidance to the director in undertaking the complex and highly sensitive intervention at the site of the former mother and baby institution in Tuam. The director will consult with the advisory board at regular intervals, including at key decision points in the intervention.

The 2022 Act provides that the advisory board consist of a chairperson who is a former coroner or someone with coronial expertise; two members with scientific expertise; a representative of Galway County Council; a former resident of the Tuam institution; and a family member of a person believed to be buried at the Tuam site.

Dr Farrell, a past president of the Coroners’ Society of Ireland, is joined on the board by scientific experts Dr Barra O’Donnabhain and Dr Denise Keating, County Council representative Alan Farrell, former resident Peter Mulryan and family member Annette McKay.

Children’s minister Roderic O’Gorman said: “I am pleased to make these appointments to the advisory board. The strong pool of experience and expertise will be an invaluable resource to the Director during what will no doubt be a highly complex intervention process.

“In addition to being supported by this advisory board, the Tuam Director is committed to ongoing engagement with all those affected by the site.”