Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will not undermine in any way the credibility of the important role the Garda generally plays in the area of child protection, in consultation with the HSE.

They are somewhere between a rock and a hard place. If there is a report of a child at risk and they do not intervene and something goes wrong the Garda are criticised. Equally, if there is a report of a child at risk and they do intervene and it proves to be the case that the report was inaccurate the Garda are criticised. It is important we deal with this in a considered and temperate way. I look forward to the Ombudsman for Children engaging on this matter, raising each and every question of relevance and, ultimately, publicly reporting.

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