Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I believe the proposition from the Minister to defer addressing all the pressing matters that have been raised here this morning until next Tuesday constitutes a disservice to a process that should commence today. I acknowledge this is a process and Members do not expect immediate and full disclosure of all the facts pertaining to all these cases and reports. However, this process of address must commence without delay and it is within the Minister's gift and the Department's responsibility to come before the House today and to commence this process. Lessons must be learned and to allow the situation to drift over the course of the weekend and into next week's business is absolutely irresponsible.

It is well within the compass of the Department and the Minister of State with responsibility for children to appear before the House and the Opposition parties today to discuss the salient matters. Such a debate must focus on the care regimes that were in place and the lessons that must be learnt, which presumably must be incorporated in the recommendations and conclusions of such reports. Moreover, to set about implementing those recommendations, firm commitments should be made to this House and through this House to the people of this State. That is Members' duty and responsibility and I join with the earlier calls to insist again that this process should commence today.

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