Mr. Justin Kelly:

On behalf of the Garda Commissioner, I thank the Cathaoirleach and members of the committee for the opportunity to speak to them today. I am the assistant commissioner with strategic responsibility for tackling organised and serious crime. One of the bureaus under my remit is the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, GNPSB. Our organisational response to sexual crimes against children is the responsibility of this specialist unit. My colleague Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan, who heads up that section, joins me today.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is one of the most important undertakings placed on society and, as members may know, "Keeping People Safe" is the mission statement of An Garda Síochána. Considerable work is being undertaken within Tusla, the HSE, Children’s Health Ireland and An Garda Síochána under the Barnahus project. An Garda Síochána is a committed partner to the implementation of the Barnahus model. We have representatives on the various Barnahus governance and oversight committees. A senior Garda officer, a detective superintendent, sits on the Barnahus national agency steering committee; a highly experienced detective inspector sits on the Barnahus interdepartmental group; and a number of knowledgeable detective inspectors represent An Garda Síochána on the various regional steering groups.

The principles of the Barnahus model have been operating in Galway since its launch in September 2019. The Barnahus West centre became fully operational at its current permanent location in Galway in January 2022. The Barnahus project team holds twice-weekly multidisciplinary case review meetings to triage, allocate and discuss cases. Key professionals in child protection, healthcare and An Garda Síochána meet regularly to review cases of child sexual abuse and plan the steps that need to be taken. Currently, a sergeant performs the role of Garda liaison to Barnahus West and is a core member of the team there.

The development and implementation of the Barnahus model of service in Ireland is a cross-government, multiagency project that is a significant initiative to help victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The development and implementation of the Barnahus model of service in Ireland is a cross-government, multi-agency project, which is a significant initiative to help victims and survivors of childhood sexual abuse. As the committee has heard, the national roll-out of the Barnahus model of service involves four agencies that are involved in the delivery of services: Tusla, Children's Health Ireland, the HSE and An Garda Síochána. Also involved are the Departments of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Health, and Justice.

The introduction of the Barnahus model into Ireland, adapted from Iceland to an Irish context, aims to strengthen our response to child sexual abuse by placing the best interests of the child at its centre, ensuring greater interagency collaboration and case management, and ensuring the removal of undue delays. The overarching aim is that all children who are victims in such cases, and their families, benefit from child-friendly access to justice and healthcare. One of the pillars of the Barnahus model is to enhance interagency co-ordination. This gives rise to the appointment of dedicated Garda personnel as regional co-ordinators to each of the three Barnahus centres. These role holders will be required to be the dedicated point of contact for our partner agencies within Barnahus. They will attend the Barnahus biweekly meetings, and at these be in a position to provide an update regarding ongoing Garda investigations and the specialist interviewing of children. A key role for them will be their liaison with child specialist interviewers to ensure that the key task of interviewing children coming under Barnahus is managed efficiently. An Garda Síochána is currently in the process of finalising role profiles in order to advertise internally for gardaí to be attached on a permanent basis to each Barnahus location. While this will be a draw on resourcing given the increasing and competing demands on the policing service we provide, these will in our view be vital positions to ensure the efficient operation of the project. An Garda Síochána is fully supportive of the Barnahus project, and is playing an active role in the current locations and the future planning. I welcome any questions committee members may have for Detective Chief Superintendent Noonan or me.