Joan Freeman (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Dunnion for that presentation. She informed me of matters I did not know about. I am so grateful for HIQA and for the role that it plays in society.

First, the fundamental piece that struck me is how serious this is. Ms Dunnion highlighted that the areas that need to be looked at are the assessment of foster carers and management of allegations - those were two issues. I am finding that difficult to accept because I am thinking that the most fundamental issue is that HIQA must see if this foster care is suitable. That is the number one priority because if it is not, there should be no child going to them. The second issue of the management of potential allegations smacks of the concern as to whether this child could be suffering for a long time before anything is done. That terrifies me.

Third, HIQA's lack of autonomy as an organisation frightens me also. Ms Dunnion states that HIQA has no legal remit, that all it can do is escalate issues or speed them along. That makes me very frightened of the future for our children. If that is all HIQA can do, if it has no autonomy and it puts that request or problem in the hands of Tusla, what in God's name will happen then? I am sorry about my roundabout way of putting all this but I would like Ms Dunnion's comments about what I have said.

What is the timeframe here? What is the timeframe for a child who is in trouble at the hands of a foster carer or whoever before that child is seen to and sorted?