Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

We need to speak further about this matter when a better opportunity presents. My first thought is for the families who lost children. No words of mine can deal adequately with their sense of loss. I do not think the words of anybody else here could do so either. The second point I would like to make is that today the HSE is publishing a series of reports. The National Review Panel for Serious Incidents and Child Deaths was established under the guidance of the Health Information and Quality Authority. Its first annual report which provides an overview of the work carried out by the group since its establishment in 2010 is also being published today.

The Deputy has mentioned that this is a scandalous situation. That was certainly the case when the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and I were on the other side of the House. The leaked information given to Deputy Shatter in February 2010 on the tragic death of Tracey Fay led to the establishment of the national review panel. The six reports concern four deaths and two serious incidents involving young people. Three deaths were caused by natural causes and one followed an accident. The two serious incidents were also accidents. I would like to be able to say we could reach a situation where no other child would pass away while in the care of the State, but obviously I cannot do so.

The steps taken since the issue was highlighted by Deputy Shatter in February 2010 have, at least, resulted in the publication of the reports which set out the situation to date. The annual report covers deaths and serious incidents involving children who were in care, who had been in care or who were known to have availed of HSE child protection and welfare services. It covers 22 deaths and nine serious incidents in the period examined. The deaths were due to a combination of natural causes, suicide and tragic accidents, including road traffic accidents. In all cases, the inaction or mistaken action of the child protection services was not linked with the death or serious incident. My thoughts, as I said, are with the families involved.

The Government expects the national review panel to continue its work by assessing deaths and serious incidents that took place this year. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, is expecting to receive in the coming months a further report on the deaths of children that occurred while they were in the care of the State. The report is being written by two experts in the field, Ms Norah Gibbons and Dr. Geoffrey Shannon.

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