Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is another horrendous case. It is an appalling case of a young life with the challenges which Grace faced. I listened to the voice of her mother this morning, as many others did. The Deputy and I, and everybody else, have a duty to sort this. Are we continuously to stand here to deal with the consequences of the sins of those who went before us? I thought we had come to within sight of the end of these but obviously not.

The Deputy asked two questions. My understanding is that there is still a criminal investigation going on. There was some confusion about whether that would be disruptive of these reports being published. The matter has been cleared and they have been published in redacted form.

The second question the Deputy asked was in respect of the recommendation of the Dignam report that there may be others in this foster home for whom there should also be an investigation. I can inform the Deputy that the Cabinet approved both the order to come before the House and the terms of reference which will be brought through by the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath. These were fully approved by Cabinet today.

One of the conditions of the terms of reference will deal with the question the Deputy asked. Without taking from the Minister’s opening statements on this, in respect of any facts established by the investigation’s terms of reference, it will also allow for the specification of the scope of any further investigations which the commission considers to be warranted in the public interest. This would have regard to the facts and information established in its possession, including the report by Conor Dignam SC in his review of certain matters relating to a disability service in the south east of 29 August 2016 and his recommendations regarding the areas to be examined by a commission of investigation, which were referred to in chapter 4 of his report, including care and decision making in respect of others, which was referred to in pages 306 and 307 of his report.

The intention is to deal, in the first instance and as the Minister will outline, with the horrors inflicted on Grace and the answers to the many questions that the Deputy and so many others have asked. I commend Deputy Deasy, who is not in the Chamber but who raised this matter on a number of occasions. I also commend Deputy McGuinness, who also raised it. The terms of reference allow for an expansion, if that be considered appropriate, by the commission, both arising from the facts and information it has and taking into account what Mr. Dignam, SC, said in his report.

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