Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh míle maith agat. It is with a sense of déjà vuand deep sadness that I speak on this harrowing issue. The detail of the abuse, in so far as we know it, suffered by Grace makes for distressing and disturbing reading and her treatment and the other elements of this dreadful episode in the life of this citizen warrants the most thorough Garda investigation. The DPP also has serious questions to answer about how it handled the allegations of abuse at the foster home in question. The HSE, the Oireachtas and successive Governments must also questions to answer about the persistent failures of child protection systems over the decades.

I commend the whistleblower but we must acknowledge that there is no culture, at this time, to encourage people to blow the whistle or to tell their stories. In fact, the contrary appears to be the case. As an 11 year old child, Grace, who has severe intellectual disabilities and is non-verbal, was placed in the foster home in 1989 and was only removed 20 years later. Her abuser shamefully and outrageously exploited her disability. We may never know the full extent of the abuse but it seems that the foster care was never properly assessed. It appears that the serious allegations of abuse and neglect were ignored. Five files arising from concerns about abuse were sent to the DPP since 1990. There were no prosecutions. The whistleblower said he brought Grace to hospital twice because of the extent of her injuries. Despite this, he claims he could not persuade the HSE to take the legal steps needed to end the placement. Grace was left in this foster home for 13 years after new HSE placements had been stopped.

The whistleblower asserts "that a wide range of southern eastern health boards and HSE employees, including senior managers, had known about this case since the 1990s but no one was prepared to terminate the foster place and move the young woman to a safe accommodation." This story is the stuff of nightmares. It is a litany of failure and cover up. If the whistleblower had not gone to the Committee of Public Accounts and if a row had not erupted because of the botched nature of the apology, this tragic account of abuse of a young woman might have remained largely hidden behind unpublished reports. It was only when it was faced with public outrage that the Government finally acts and establishes a commission of investigation. I welcome this decision but I am concerned that it is being dealt with in the way that it is.

Some 47 highly vulnerable children and young adults were placed in this foster home. I have no doubt that their families are deeply traumatised by this unfolding story and wondering about their loved ones. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure that the terms of reference of the commission of investigation are discussed with opposition spokespersons to ensure that it is comprehensive and secures the widest possible support in this Dáil. This is particularly important given that there has been a succession of damning reports about the treatment of women and children by the institutions of this State over many decades. Currently, one in five foster carers do not have a social worker. This is actually in breach of the regulations. How can the State ensure there are no other Graces in the foster care system if there are not the social workers available to provide the necessary level of scrutiny. This morning the chairperson of the Irish Association of Social Workers, Donal O'Malley, said he is not confident that there are sufficient safeguards in place to prevent another case like Grace happening again.

Last month, Deputy Ó Caoláin revealed there are 5,585 children waiting more than one month to be allocated a social worker and of these, 1,087 are classified as high risk. All of this represents a failure on the part of Government to fulfil its responsibilities and of the Members of the Oireachtas to fulfil our responsibilities. The Government is now in its last hours. What is certain is that the next Government faces a mighty challenge to right the mistakes that have left vulnerable people in the awful situation they were placed in and to ensure vulnerable women and children in particular are protected.

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