Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not negotiable.

In my professional life, I have been reporting to Tusla continually. As public representatives, we receive telephone calls from constituents who have been reported to Tusla by various individuals, such as partners or neighbours. They plead, "They have got it wrong, they have got it wrong, they have got it wrong". Most of us at the other end of the telephone, whether councillors or public representatives, say, "Well, we do not think they have got it wrong. I do think you have got it wrong".

How can allegations of child sexual abuse be investigated when the agency lacks a proper framework? What is the practice for informing alleged perpetrators who are being investigated? Is there such a practice given that Tusla has now acknowledged that social workers need extra training? I acknowledge this has been touched on. Is there a timeline and structure for informing the alleged perpetrator?

Is it the witnesses' understanding, in line with Children First, that if a health professional or member of the HSE becomes aware of abuse allegations, he or she should contact Tusla before any other agencies? I do not know if this is endemic. In certain circumstances, it does not seem to have occurred.

Clerical and human errors do occur, of course, by nature. We have been asked to believe fantasy in recent days, however.