Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Cathaoirleach. A direct question was put. St. John Ambulance now has a fully up-to-date child safeguarding statement and that is important. It is a basic requirement. One of the points I made is the organisation is in the recruitment process for a national safeguarding lead. It is positive to see that happening and it is one of the steps it committed to following the Shannon report. However, only when that person is in position and undertaking that role will I be fully satisfied as to the absolute safety of every child within that organisation. That step is taking place, but it needs to have happened and the person needs to be in post before I am absolutely satisfied because when one looks at the history of the organisation, that role is essential for being able to provide confidence to everybody.

I spoke to some of the changes and responses to Judge Shannon's report that have been made. There has been replacement of some of the board members, which is positive. A vetting system has been put in place. There is a quarterly update provided to my Department on the various steps, but we need to see all those steps completed. However, it is not just about officers. This maybe speaks to the Senator's original point about culture and ethos that he made with reference to the context of the Defence Forces, because one of the real themes that came through Judge Shannon's report was the militaristic, command-led ethos in this particular organisation. It had military features from the uniforms, to a secretive board and even to the gradings within the organisations. Judge Shannon was very clear all that must change, that the ethos of this organisation must change, that it cannot have any sort of military trappings about it anymore in terms of what it is doing. Again, the appointment of the national safeguarding officer and having someone in situundertaking that role will provide me with much greater confidence going forward.