Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are so many issues here that one would like to address, but the witnesses will be glad to hear that I do not intend to take the tourist route. However, a number of issues come to mind. First is the abuse of vulnerable people in public and private institutions. Are we satisfied with the system in each? What are the weaknesses in the reporting system and the follow-up?

On the issue of bullying, we have seen countless tragic cases of bullying over the past number of years. Sometimes they have been reported effectively, and sometimes not but have ended tragically. How do the witnesses see improvements being made there in order that immediate action and corrective measures are taken and provisions are put in place to protect the victims?

My third question concerns abuse outside of the family. For example, not so long ago, I dealt with a case of a teenage girl being enticed away from her home by a middle-aged man. I followed it up in all manner of ways - through the education system, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, everywhere. I attended meetings with various stakeholders and so on. It was impossible to intervene because although the girl was a minor, she had not made a complaint. The complaint had been made by her parents. The parents had to go to court to win their case, which they did. Why should that be? What do the witnesses think we should do, as legislators, to address that issue?

Finally, I believe that over the years, we have addressed a number of issues that needed addressing. For example, we decongregated mental institutions and rightly so; they were terrible places. However, we put nothing place to replace them and to protect the people who were there. Maybe they were wrongly institutionalised but they were there and we did not provide alternative support for them. We addressed one issue but did not provide subsequent support for those who needed it. What should we be doing there? I have my own views on the subject but I will leave it to the witnesses.

I would also like to congratulate the witnesses on the good work they have done. I thank Ms Justice Laffoy and her team for engaging on this particular issue and on many other issues as well.