Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)

As one who represents the constituency where the national focus has centred, I can say we are all deeply troubled by the severe maltreatment, sexual violation, emotional devastation and extreme neglect which have surfaced in this case. There is no doubt that on whatever side of the House we sit, the health and well-being of our children is something about which each of us cares deeply. The history of abuse in this case is extensive and appalling. This is a painful and deeply disturbing tragedy that has left us shocked and saddened and we are still trying to understand how such levels of degradation and deprivation could occur in our midst over such a prolonged period of time.

As a society, we must teach our children that they are valued and teach them to value others also. To paraphrase an American spokesperson on the issue, namely, Ms Tipper Gore, we must turn our national consensus on abuse prevention into a national conscience, where every member of our society nurtures the fact that our children are the most precious resource we have, and we all have a stake in ensuring they receive the care and support they need. It takes more than good government and public servants; it takes good people on the streets working every day to reach out and help those who are least able to help themselves.

The Roscommon case highlights the need to examine existing legislation and child protection procedures. The decision of the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Barry Andrews, to launch an immediate, independent investigation to examine the management of the case and to compile a report on its findings is the most sensitive and expeditious way of dealing with these issues.

It is imperative that we establish the facts holistically. We cannot fix a system without simultaneously addressing every interconnected problem, and we cannot implement any legislative changes until this is achieved. The appointment of Ms Norah Gibbons, director of advocacy for Barnardos, to chair the inquiry, along with Ms Leonie Lunny, former chief executive with the Citizens Information Board, and two senior Health Services Executive staff is the most effective way to get the facts as soon as possible. It must be understood that the appointment of two senior HSE staff is a platform to ensure that the team will have complete access to the HSE system and staff, up to and including the chief executive. The investigation team will have access to independent legal advice, which will be available throughout the investigation. The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, also has the right to carry out any further investigation where he deems it necessary.

It is part of the duties of a civil society to protect vulnerable citizens and others from harm, and I believe the appointed team will compile a transparent and conclusive report which will enable us to implement the legislation and corrective measures that have come to our attention in such a terrible manner.

The terms of reference for the investigation team are to identify any shortcomings in the care management process, to examine the entire management of the case from a care perspective and to make a report on the findings within six months, should there be no unforeseeable obstructions. The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, fully reserves the right to carry out any further investigations necessary.

As parents, teachers, health care professionals, Government officials and concerned citizens, we must take responsibility through collaborative efforts to reach out to those at risk. Everyone must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, not every child in Ireland is raised in a safe and loving home. More often than we realise, children become the victims of abuse and neglect from the very people they should be able to trust. We must further educate children to avoid situations where abuse can occur and not to fear the authorities who are entrusted with their interests. As a community, we need to be diligent and observant and we must be intelligent and effective in that regard. Child care protection and welfare guidelines must be implemented in full and they must be implemented consistently throughout the country. This horrific case has shown us that we must think of children in every policy decision we make and implement to ensure that this cannot happen again in our society.

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