Mr. Ian Elliott:

I am happy to add some further detail to the information that has already been shared with the committee. When I came before the committee on 9 May, I made reference to the fact that I was concerned about the situation that I believed existed in relation to the past practice of the scouting organisations which now form part of Scouting Ireland. On this occasion, it is important I share with the committee the knowledge that I have at this point. Although it is dark, I emphasise that this is the information that I have at this time. There is knowledge of 71 alleged sex offenders and 108 alleged victims.

It is important for the committee to understand that this information has come from a number of sources. It has not been simply acquired through a reading of the documentation that exists within the organisation. Obviously, there is information there that has contributed to that, but it has also come from two other important sources. One source is personal memory and recollection of individuals within the organisation who have shared with me concerns and knowledge stemming from many years back which has not been properly bottomed out. Also, importantly, it has been derived from victims, people who have come forward, spoken to us and shared with us what their experience has been. That is happening in increasing numbers. There are an increasing number of people who are coming forward and talking directly to us. The reason they say they are doing so is that they have confidence in the process and confidence that they will be listened to, believed and helped.

The figure of 108 victims is an important one. I want members to think of that, not in numerical terms but in human terms. That is 108 people who have suffered and are suffering today as a result of being exposed to situations to which they should never have been exposed. It is important for me to confirm to the committee that the new board of Scouting Ireland has impressed on me its absolute commitment to responding to those individuals with compassion and concern and to helping them in every way that it possibly can. That is what we are seeking to do.

I do not believe the figures I am sharing with the committee at this time will be the final figures. I believe the numbers will increase.

I will provide a significant detail that the committee needs to be aware of because a question was asked when the Minister spoke with regard to how many of the individuals of whom we are aware had multiple victims. There are 14 such individuals.

The committee is also concerned to ensure that the reporting requirements in relation to all of those individuals have been met. I can assure members that that is the case. The majority of the alleged offenders are deceased. Those who are alive have been reported to the appropriate authorities in the jurisdiction in which they are located because Scouting Ireland is an all-island body and they are not all located within the Republic. Some are in Northern Ireland and some are overseas. We do not know at this time what all those, among this group of individuals, who are alive today are currently doing. What we know is that they are not in scouting. We have reported to the appropriate authorities who they are but we do not track those individuals as we do not have that capacity.

Senator Freeman asked what protocol applies in relation to victims who are coming forward. Since the new board came into being on 7 October last, considerable progress has been made from my perspective in handling and dealing with the difficult issues that arise from this matter. I proposed to the new board that it adopt a victims' policy for Scouting Ireland which simply sets out the board's commitment to victims, the responses that should be made and how those should be monitored. The board has agreed to do that and is in the process of adopting that policy. I believe it will shortly become part of the policy framework. That is a considerable step forward and I compliment the board on that.

There is an issue about the resources that are required to ensure that every victim who comes forward and speaks to us is responded to in an appropriate way. The work is not only time-consuming but also emotionally demanding. Experience and skill are required to do it effectively. I have shared with the board and also the CEO, Dr. Lawlor, my concern with regard to the capacity of the organisation to respond. However, I have absolutely no doubt that the commitment is there. As the committee will possibly be aware, I have a fair amount of experience of working with organisations that have a difficult and bad history in this area. One meets with a variety of approaches but what the new board of Scouting Ireland is doing is stating that it is owning this problem, not denying it, and that it wants to accept that it has happened, deal with that reality and reach out to those who have been hurt and harmed in a compassionate and effective way. I have been offered all the support the board can provide in order to do that. That is an important message to take to the committee.