Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Tá sé dochreidte go bhfuil an díospóireacht seo againn anocht, díospóireacht ar scannal cosúil le scannail eile a chuaigh ar aghaidh sa tír seo. There is an air of, "Can this have happened again in recent years?", after so many similar cases in the past. It is so reminiscent of our debates and discussions on the Magdalene Laundries, the mother and baby homes, and the abuse in residential institutions where young men, women and children were so disregarded and brutalised. When we had those debates, there was a feeling that had happened in the past and could not recur, yet here we are discussing this matter tonight.

Language can sometimes fail to adequately describe how we feel or think about matters such as this. We use words such as "horrifying", "shocking" or "terrible", but they do not convey the enormity of what we are told happened to these young people. This is at a time when we supposedly know so much more and where safeguards are supposed to be in place. We have policies on child care and child protection, as well as complaints procedures. All of those measures, however, failed to protect these vulnerable 47 people, and especially those known as Grace and Ann.

It is therefore vitally important that the truth is established as to how such abuse could have continued for so long. We are having a commission of investigation and a Garda report to establish the truth. I wish to acknowledge the persistence of the whistleblower, who I believe is a social worker, who has tried for six years to bring to light this matter. There has been a spectacular failure on somebody's part to address the issues.

If persons fail children in whatever setting, and know about abuse, it should be a matter for dismissal - but not a dismissal that lands in court with the authorities being sued. Alternatively, those concerned should have the honour - if they have any - to resign.

I note that the Irish Association of Social Workers referred to the rapid turnover of staff and the relative inexperience of those working with children at risk. We know we do not have enough social workers and we can see that, in particular, concerning the provision of services for homeless people. Families have been in touch with me who have been waiting for very long periods to have a social worker assigned to them. Earlier today during questions to the Minister for Health, we were talking about cuts to intellectual disability services and a reduction in the number of trained intellectual disability nurses. They are being replaced by agency staff who do not have experience in that area.

The most important question is why children were left in the home when the allegation of abuse emerged. I would like clarification on new graduates going into Tusla. That agency finds it difficult to retain staff because they are moving on to less stressful positions. I agree with what the Minister said earlier about establishing the facts, but I want to return to another abuse issue that I raised here at Leaders' Questions with the Taoiseach. It led to me meeting with the Minister for Justice and Equality, and it concerns abuse in swimming circles. Some of the perpetrators were brought to justice but one known figure in swimming circles was not. By whatever means, he left this country and was able to live a fine life in another jurisdiction, leaving a trail of heartache behind him for his abuse victims. The facts were established and gardaí were confident that this person would be brought to justice. Gardaí met one of the victims and assured her that due process would be followed, the person would be brought to court and she would see justice. That would have been part of a healing process for her, which is so important for people who have been abused, but that did not happen because the DPP decided not to go ahead with the case.

When Garda detectives called out to tell this victim that the case was not going ahead, she tried to commit suicide. There have been other suicides of that person's victims since then because the person was not brought to justice, even though the facts were known. I am sorry, but I do not have much faith in the DPP, given that Garda detectives were confident the case would go ahead. I sincerely hope that does not happen in the current case. I do not want to jeopardise any investigation of a criminal case, but I have grave doubts as to whether justice can be done for those who suffered.

Finally, I wish to refer to the foster parents I met in my teaching days, who give exemplary care to children in their care. They must be feeling particularly hurt today because there is a danger of tarring everybody with the same brush.

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