The government this morning published terms of reference for the inquiry into mother and baby homes.

The commission of investigation will be led by Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy, and was set up after it was learned that almost 800 children died at a Tuam institution. Dr William Duncan and Prof Mary E Daly are the other members of the commission.

The inquiry will be given three years to complete its work, and will focus on all such homes from 1922 to 1998.

The Commission will have a specific list of Mother and Baby Homes and also look at the network of County Homes and will look at entry arrangements and exit pathways for single women.

They will also look at post-mortem practices and procedures like reporting, burial arrangements and the transfer of remains. Compliance with regulatory and ethical standards in relation to vaccine trials will also be examined.

Children's Minister James Reilly announced the terms of reference for the commission this morning.

"I believe that this commission will be critically important in coming to terms with our own history, and an understanding who we are as a people" he said.

"I hope that this commission - which has all the powers needed to get the information requited - will help us all come to a better understand how we treated mothers and children in these homes, and how we can learn from this for the future" he added.

Mr Reilly also warned that if anything emerges that requires criminal investigation by Gardai this will be passed on

He announced the details about the investigation after briefing survivors groups this morning.

Terry Harrison, a survivor whose son was taken from her, said she “absolutely celebrated” the news.

She says she hopes this inquiry will someday see people brought before the courts: “I never thought I’d live to see to this day. Look at me, I’m speaking out, I’m not afraid ashamed anymore. Shame on them. And one day I hope to shame and name the people - The people who abducted me, first and foremost, from England, and the people who stole my child out of his cot. I hope one day I’ll face them in court,” she said.

The inquiry received over 160 submissions from the public and interest groups during a consultation.

The terms will be debated in the Oireachtas before the commission is formally established.

Paul Redmond is spokesperson for the Coalition of Mother and Baby Home Survivors.

He told Newstalk Breakfast they want first and foremost to see religious orders put in the dock.