Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We need to reflect on what is important, namely, the safety of children. We all agree that the practices and neglect that formed part of our history in dealing with children must be put behind us. That is being done. The safety and welfare of children are being put at the heart of the entire child protection system.

As regards how that is operated, however, it has to be done in an accountable way. Many people have basic questions to ask about what happened. How did the gardaí arrive at a home and remove a child in circumstances where, as we now know, there does not appear to have been any basis for doing so? How did that happen? What was the report or information the gardaí had that led them to go to the house in the first place?

See this speech in context