Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

This is a respectful tone. We have learned that more than 8,000 reported child protection cases were not investigated by the HSE in 2007. Some of these children's lives could have been at risk. Last year, social workers in Galway, which had the lowest rate of social workers per caseload, told me they were overworked and worried about files which had been left unopened for longer than two weeks.

It is time to introduce mandatory reporting of child abuse in Ireland, whereby one is obliged by law to report a suspicion of child neglect or abuse to the relevant authorities. Mandatory reporting would be helpful in providing professionals such as teachers and doctors with an explanation for why they had to report their suspicions. Today's patterns reveal that little has been learned. The recommendations made in various reports on Government action and reform of child care services have not been implemented. The HSE and the Government have signally failed to implement the Children First guidelines since their publication in 1999. If the guidelines were given statutory force, it would be a different matter. Will the Minister give them statutory force in his implementation plan? When will we have the promised referendum on enshrining children's rights in the Constitution? Loathe though I am to say it, our children will remain at risk until this happens. Whistleblower legislation is also required to enable anyone to report suspicions. I call on the Government to devise a means for rescinding the criminal records of child victims. Some of these children were criminalised for mitching school. Today, children are absent for more than 60 days before the State acts.

For the victims who have had the courage to tell their stories, healing is critical. A review of compensation is needed. I am appalled by CORI's response. Speaking on behalf of that organisation, Ms O'Connor said the deal was closed.