Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is not clear whether the Minister does not have the information because she has not read the file yet or because that information is not contained in it. She might answer that with my next question. I want to put on the record that the Minister, Deputy Zappone, has responded efficiently, sensitively and appropriately. I am not just saying that as my opinion, I have seen the evidence that supports it was an adequate response when she was made aware of those allegations. Her account today has been imminently believable, and I must put it to the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste that their accounts have not been the same.

The account of the Taoiseach and Tánaiste has not been as full or as humble. They have tried to hide behind the Tusla files, as if this is a get out of jail card. All of us, including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste, know from the protected disclosure of Dave Taylor that false allegations of child sex abuse were being made against Maurice McCabe. Do the Taoiseach and Tánaiste expect us to believe that when Deputy Zappone told them she was meeting the McCabes they thought it might have been on a personal matter and not something they should be interested in?

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