Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Adams for his question. The report commissioned by the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan, was received by the Minister on 2 April. On the advice of the Attorney General, certain legal matters had to be attended to prior to the publication of the report.. These have all now been resolved and the report was brought to the Government this morning. It was approved by the Government for publication. The Minister will do that at 4 p.m. today.

This is a commendable report by the Ombudsman for Children. It points out that there are a number of recommendations that need to be accepted, dealt with and fulfilled. The Minister will deal with this at a press conference at 4 p.m. Copies of the report have been laid before the House and the Minister will publish the report at a press conference with Ms Logan. In advance of the press conference, the Minister is meeting with the families concerned. I understand that the Acting Garda Commissioner is meeting separately with the families.

The State will provide the families with every support to overcome these events. The upset they endured and the stress that was caused over those few days last October and since then should never have occurred in this or any other jurisdiction. My Government colleagues and I are determined that such events will never happen again.

As the Deputy will be aware, the report recommends that an apology should be provided by the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Minister will do that. The report sets out a number of recommendations. The Government has accepted the findings of the report and its recommendations in full. On that basis, an implementation group will be established by the Minister to monitor the situation and see that the recommendations are acted upon.

The Department of Justice and Equality is currently leading a cross-departmental review of Ireland's migrant integration strategy. The Government is committed to ensuring that the review results in a more effective approach to Roma integration in Ireland, recognising the distinct challenges that the Roma community faces, including language, translation, mentoring and understanding. All of these things are important.

It is not acceptable that these events should have happened to these families or any other families in this jurisdiction. The Minister will publish the report and the Government has accepted all of its recommendations. An implementation group is being established to implement those recommendations. The Minister is currently meeting with the families, as is the Acting Garda Commissioner. There will be a full press conference with the Minister and the Ombudsman for Children at 4 p.m.

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