The non-statutory inquiry into alleged sexual abuse by some priests from the Diocese of Ferns is said to be advancing at speed and is expected to start meeting victims in the next few weeks.
The three-panel inquiry chaired by the Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Francis Murphy, has already received case files from Gardaí, the Department of Health and the Catholic Church.
The two other members of the inquiry panel are Dr Helen Buckley, TCD senior social studies lecturer and Dr Laraine Joyce, Deputy Director of the Office for Health Management.
The inquiry, which has its headquarters in Dublin, was set up by the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, following the resignation of Brendan Comiskey from his post as Bishop of Ferns last year.
It is expected that the former Bishop, who resigned over his handling of child sexual abuse cases last year, will give evidence at some stage to the inquiry, which is meeting behind closed doors and is not open to the public.
Advertisements placed in national newspapers by the inquiry team this week have invited any alleged victims with relevant documentation or information to contact them by 12 September.
It is still unclear how long the inquiry will last or when a final report will be issued but it will probably be well into next year.
