Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

If the Government is genuinely concerned with ensuring that children are given the protection to which they are entitled, could he explain why this dispute has been left simmering for eight years, preventing implementation of the Children First guidelines and resulting, as the Ombudsman for Children have told us, in instances of child abuse not being properly reported to the Garda? It is a particular scandal in current circumstances. Could the Taoiseach explain why it was not addressed in the context of these discussions? Did the Taoiseach even know the dispute was taking place until the Ombudsman for Children's report was published? What has he done as Taoiseach to have this dispute resolved?

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