Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Ombudsman for Children is the appropriate person to investigate this. At its core, this investigation is about the removal of children into care and then going before the courts system, which must happen as soon as a section 12 action is taken and the HSE gets involved. It involves the relationship or involvement of two agencies - the Garda Síochána and the HSE social workers and services - but in relation to children. Children are at the centre.

Considering the detail of the events that happened, I believe it is the right decision to refer it to the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Logan. She has undertaken many reports into the involvement of State agencies with children. In a number of previous reports, she has examined the kind of services that children get. She is well placed to examine this precise situation. I believe her report will be comprehensive and thorough because that is the way she does her work.

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