Máire Devine (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I thank Mr. French for his time. He was very generous previously when we met and spoke about Valerie's law. I appreciate all that he has done. His drive to protect children is commendable. I cannot imagine what it has been like for Valerie's family, who could only watch while three young children were taken into care. It is incomprehensible that Valerie's family, including Mr. French, had no say in what happened and no engagement whatsoever when it came to his nephews and sister's boys.

I have read all the documents and note that there has been a significant response by the different agencies with an interest in and concern about this matter. There are several issues and I will ask three questions.

What difference would it have made to Valerie's family and the well-being of the children if this legislation had been in place when Valerie was murdered in 2019?

What does Mr. French think about the suggestion that the guardianship should be suspended for a parent who has been charged with but not convicted of either murder or manslaughter, or causing incapacitating injury, to the other parent? It took five years to get Valerie's case to court, so what is Mr. French's opinion of the process taking so long? My personal opinion is that childhood is a very short season and the corruption of it will happen within those five years.

I want to discuss Mr. French's experience of Tusla, whose function it is to protect children and families. It seems Tusla will take a central role if this legislation goes through. Tusla has stated its concerns about how the new statutory functions under this Bill would fundamentally change its existing statutory functions and remit, which relates to the child and family protection that Tusla is charged with providing for this State.