Mr. Ian Elliott:

It is important to recognise that the events that took place last year, particularly in November, gave rise to a flow of information that was unprecedented in our experience and a lot of new information came to light. Individuals came forward who had not previously spoken of the abuse that they were subjected to and that we had no knowledge of. New victims came forward in regard to people of whom we had a knowledge. There was a significant amount of information. That primarily came to us and to the statutory agencies through the provision of a helpline, which we set up and ran. It is a fact and it is important to recognise that.

What I said, and have said previously, is that Scouting Ireland has to be responsible for all the information that is known within the organisation, not only that held at Larch Hill. Personal memory and recollection is also important and we have to tap that. We have to ensure that we have looked at all that and that we understand fully the extent to which children had been hurt in the past, and that is what we are seeking today.