Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As our party leader made clear earlier, the Fianna Fáil Party welcomes the proposal to set up a statutory commission of investigation into the events in a foster home in the south-east. I salute the dedication, commitment and, above all, the actions of the whistleblowers involved. Without them, we would not have heard the details we heard over the past number of weeks and months in the discussions in the Committee of Public Accounts and in tonight's debate on a commission of inquiry being set up. I take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the work and commitment of Committee of Public Accounts, particularly the Deputies from the south-east, Deputies McGuinness and Deasy, in highlighting what can best be described as a distressing and an appalling story. The Committee of Public Accounts has had many critics but as we have seen over the past number of weeks, it has done a significant job of work in its public service commitment.

It is grim that this new story of sex abuse has arisen and a new inquiry is required. It is appalling to hear about abuse against such a vulnerable person - a defenceless girl - who grew into womanhood in such a place. It is very disturbing and the State, as well as those in whom responsibility for care was vested, should take responsibility yet again for the failures in the support systems. Yet again the HSE has been left with a less than exemplary record and its response to the issue has made it worse. It continued to make statements that contradicted previous statements. The most dismal management in approaching the context of disclosure must come to an end. The inability of the HSE to respond in a humane or sensitive manner to these matters is simply incredible. There was a tardy apology from the HSE director general that did not reverse the trauma suffered by the victim and her family. Despite allegations of sexual assaults being made by the former residents of the home, no action was taken.

The events that played out over the week point to enormous dysfunction in the HSE and it appears there has been a lack of communication skills, humanity and compassion. Officials from the HSE deliberately misled the Committee of Public Accounts, which is a source of very serious concern. I accept that the Government needs to allow the senior counsel to conclude his work and that terms of reference in respect of the inquiry must be drawn up to protect the interests of the vulnerable. Vindicating the rights of people with disability, particularly those in residential settings, must be a priority for everybody in the 32nd Dáil. We have failed for far too long to establish an understanding of human rights and citizenship in these institutions. Yet again we are having another investigation and it is not clear if we will ever get to the bottom of it.

A number of very serious allegations have been made by Deputy Daly and it is incumbent on the Government to respond to the two charges made by her in the course of today's debate.

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