Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her clarification. Can she understand why the Ombudsman for Children said that the report should be published and why we are asking so many questions? We are operating in the dark. The Minister had just been appointed in July 2016. It was a troubled time in Oberstown, which featured in the media on a continuous basis. There were issues at the centre but the independent operational review was commissioned following presentations to the committee by the Minister and the chairman of the board of management. We all welcomed the review because, as Mr. O'Donovan said, it would highlight the gaps in the policies and procedures. We know the picture but we do not know how the jigsaw has been built because we do not know how low a base we have come from. That has been left to one side but an action plan is being put in place relating to policies and procedures. We should learn how low a base we are coming from. It is important for Oireachtas Members and for the public that the report should be published. What is the Minister's opinion on that?