Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I agree with that absolutely. The incidents shown in the television programme require immediate action and an absolute determination to deal with these unacceptable practices. At a minimum, parents leaving their children in child care facilities need to know they will be safe and not mistreated, and we are determined to put in place a regime that ensures safety and proper treatment.

The intention is to publish both Bills this session. Certain policy issues that arose in the Oireachtas committee are being considered. I agree that the Bills could be considered at an early stage and I know the Joint Committee on Health and Children is due to meet on 11 June and intends to bring in the HSE and conduct meetings on what happened and the issues arising from the programme. A way can be found to allow it to also address the heads of the Bills.

The Garda investigation has to take its course but I spoke with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs this morning and we are determined that the investigations will be completed quickly. There will be a firm response to the outcome of those investigations. In respect of continued funding of child care facilities that are found wanting, that funding can be cut and there is a determination to ensure we are not applying taxpayers' money to facilities that are not operating properly.

We need to be clear that what was shown on the television programme is utterly unacceptable to the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, to me and to the Government. We will deal with the matters arising quickly.

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