Dr. Niall Muldoon:

As mandatory reporting only came into effect on 11 December it is too early yet to know what the impact of it has been. I understand that preparations for it had been thorough in most regards. I have engaged with the Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN, and the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD, and they appear to be still rolling out a lot of the training in that regard. There will likely be a slow change.

Mandatory reporting has been well flagged but the specific implications for individuals is still coming to the fore as schools re-open and the measure comes into effect. It is vital that this is adequately resourced from a Tusla point of view and that everybody is aware of the implications for them of being a mandatory reporter. We also need to review this measure on an annual basis to determine the impact of it. It is often lost in the argument about resources that the rationale for this is because we have failed our children so often before.

Aside from mandatory reporting, there are other good elements in the Bill which allow Tusla and other people to analyse the safety statements and work of organisations, including religious orders, sporting organisations and so on. These are extra safeguards that will come to the fore over time.

It is an active and important aspect of the Bill. I welcome its introduction. I look forward to seeing the impact and if it does need to be further resourced, that must be followed through on by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. From my point of view, I look forward to it making a positive impact because its essence is there still are children who have not been able to come forward. That is the key thing. If a teacher has a good relationship with a child, he or she is more than likely to be the person. If it is a sports coach or the parent in a crèche, wherever it might be, that person now has the opportunity to be the voice for that child. That can only be a good thing.