Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the members have expressed, we are clearly shocked. The Minister has expressed her shock. Does the Minister have confidence in the organisation? Admittedly these allegations date from the 1960s-1980s, and the committee has no evidence of other incidents with the exception of the 2006 case, which is under review, and was subject to a nolle prosequi by the DPP.

Does the Minister have confidence in the organisation, having learned from this experience? There have been governance changes - the board and Chairman have changed - but, further to Senator Freeman's query, is funding the only means by which the Minister can make the organisation sit up and provide information in a timely manner to the authorities, not just to Tusla and the Garda Síochána but to the Department, as primary funders of the organisation?

I do not want to diminish the significance of the figures the Minister has given to us. Is any of the alleged perpetrators or victims deceased? We have been told by the Minister that none is currently in the organisation. Is the State aware of the names of these individuals? In the case of the alleged perpetrators, is this the first instance in which any complaint has been made about them? Are the Garda Síochána or Tusla aware of the names of the individuals? I appreciate that the Minister has only been made aware of this in the past 12 hours or so. Are the alleged perpetrators of crimes in the 1960s-1980s still active in any organisation with children or young people? I think these pertinent questions should be given an airing.