Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

If there were such practices, are there people in Sinn Féin who have information as to who attended those courts, where they are now and what information is available in order to protect children? There are a great deal of questions to be asked. I think more information will be provided.

The question the Deputy raised about a commission of inquiry is one that can be considered. There is certainly an onus on Sinn Féin to give the information to the appropriate people. That is the first obligation and it is a very serious one. Many members of Sinn Féin and others in this House have frequently raised issues to do with child protection - Deputy Martin rightly raised this issue - and those are issues we all take very seriously. This Government and, I acknowledge, previous Governments have put many measures in place. We cannot be concerned only about child abuse that occurred in the past in institutions. If we have information, we have a duty to bring it forward to the appropriate authorities.

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