Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Since last year, I have been calling for the immediate publication of the expert reports in the "Grace" foster care scandal. It is time the public knew exactly who was responsible for the horrific litany of abuse against "Grace" and more than 40 other children and young people and how this came about. We have been told the HSE refused to publish these reports on the advice of local gardaí in Waterford that it might jeopardise potential inquiries. Following a letter from Deputy John Deasy to the Garda Commissioner, the way was finally cleared two weeks ago for the publication of these reports with the Commissioner seeing no issue with that. These young people were failed by the State. As such, will the Taoiseach give the Dáil a clear timeline for the publication of these reports? This is an issue that has been highlighted by many journalists, in particular in the Irish Examiner. Will the Taoiseach provide all parties with draft terms of reference for an inquiry and provide an indication of when that inquiry might begin its work?

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