Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Taoiseach must be acknowledging that he is not conscious of the content of the report, which was published in Government Buildings earlier by two of his junior ministerial colleagues. The report, following on from the review, highlights a real crisis, with people who have the courage to come forward as victims of sexual assault finding the services they need are not in place. The lack of availability of trained doctors and forensic nurse examiners is a real crisis. Insufficient qualified personnel are available to carry out the necessary examinations.

The crisis is such in the Taoiseach's constituency that, unless a victim initiates a prosecution through the Garda, he or she will only be seen by appointment. Surely that is unacceptable. The report states that such is the fall-down in service provision in this area, victims are being dissuaded — this is the language used — from coming forward and pressing charges against predators and those who initiated these assaults.

This is a serious situation. The Taoiseach asked to what crisis I was referring. We have heard that response to other issues applying in society. There is a real crisis and a bounden responsibility on him and his colleagues to become au fait with what is recommended and to ensure it is implemented as a matter of urgency. Will the Taoiseach implement in full the recommendations of the review which was sponsored by two Departments?

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