Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses. This whole process started with the recent publication of a report on foster care in Dublin South Central where I live which showed shocking and significant failures. Tusla has many questions to answer. We must try to separate the media frenzy that occurred in response to the cases of Grace and Mary from the facts.

Tusla has the most difficult job to do in protecting and child-proofing our society and the risk to children. That said, I think the witnesses have failed. I do not say that lightly. I have a professional background in mental health and I know how difficult the job is. I understand there are no risk-free decisions. The protection of children is the most challenging of services. Tusla seems to be firefighting constantly. I come away from my interactions with social workers on the ground in Dublin South-Central with extreme disappointment and anger because I am faced with a complete culture of defensiveness. It is a defensiveness based on telling people to move along, that there is nothing to see, and that Tusla will deal with the evidence, but there is much more evidence in what I am trying to report but I am being asked to move along. That is unacceptable.

I wonder about the culture that is endemic in Tusla. There are so many people leaving and joining and Tusla seems to be a shambles. I regret having to say that. I do not think Tusla is fit for purpose. There needs to be a root-and-branch analysis and there must be challenge and change to it to protect children. Tusla was seen as the bad boy of the service. I do not want to fall into the media frenzy trap. I have said that repeatedly.

Reference was also made to section 12. It is great that the Garda is seen to be responsive, understanding and sensitive. Training is required for that. Foster care and the failures of governance identified in the report kick-started the concerns for me. Will the witnesses comment on the culture within Tusla? Is it an unhappy, unhealthy working environment? What makes it so defensive when the ordinary Joe Soap tries to access it or for elected members to try to access help when they have serious concerns regarding children. I reported two such incidents. I ask the witnesses to focus on the culture of the working environment within Tusla and whether it is fit for purpose.