James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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On Monday, 10 November, there was a report on the front page of the Irish Independent about a live criminal trial that I will not comment on. However, the issue of age verification in respect of unaccompanied minors in Tusla-held premises arose in that article. You will recall, Chair, that this is an issue that arose in two of our engagements with both Tusla and the Department of justice. When the Department of justice was before us and I probed as to who, ultimately, was legally responsible for carrying out the question of age verification, the Secretary General was not in a position to give me that reply nor was anybody else from the Department. They indicated that, as a matter of practice, it was carried out by Tusla, but you will recall that when Tusla was here, it was an issue of major concern to its representatives. The Department of justice spoke about future legislation. However, the Secretary General did say at that meeting that she would come back to us today on that legal position and provide clarity on it. Did she come back? Has the Department of justice clarified to the public accounts committee what is the legal position? Is it the legal position of the Department of justice that it is its responsibility to carry out age verification of unaccompanied minors or what is the position?