Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I would appreciate a bit of injury time. I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

I thank all Deputies for their contributions to the debate on this motion. I acknowledge their constructive input into assisting the Government's consideration of these highly sensitive issues. I commend Deputies Murphy O'Mahony and Cullinane and the Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, who are here at the moment, on their constructive and supportive ideas on how we should all deal with the Grace case. This debate has demonstrated the complexity of the issues, which I am sure the commission of investigation will be eager to look in to. We all have one thing in common: the protection of Grace and the other people as citizens of this State.

The motion before the House deals with the arrangements agreed by the Government on 7 March in respect of the establishment of a commission of investigation into certain matters relative to a disability service in the south east and related matters. It has become more commonly known as the Grace case. In this House last year, the Taoiseach said that he felt revulsion at what had been done to Grace. I am certain that no one in this House, or indeed in this country, would not concur with those sentiments. I want to get to the truth of this matter. I am supporting Grace and the other families as well. I have been an advocate for people with disabilities for over 25 and I will continue to fight for truth, justice, quality services and accountability. I will include everybody and let their voices be heard. I do not do exclusion. Anybody that knows me knows that I do not do exclusion. I will listen to all voices and everybody will be listened to. That is how we will get to the truth and justice for Grace and others. I also believe that we need decisive action and accountability. I ask the House today to trust me on this case and to trust me on these core issues. Nobody will be left out.

I also ask the House to trust the independent view of the commission. I have confidence in our new chairperson of the commission, Ms Marjorie Farrelly, SC. I have great confidence in her experience and her prosecution background. With regard to some of the comments made about Mr. Conor Dignam, SC, and Ms Marjorie Farrelly, SC, they were consulted as part of the preparation for the terms of reference. Ms Farrelly is fully satisfied with the terms of reference. We need to get out there. As I said before, I want to ensure that every single person in this debate is included. I believe that is important.

I appreciate the passion and feeling about Grace and others who have suffered so much in the care of the State when they most needed protection. I share it. We are all on the same side and share the same objective. I say that particularly to Deputy McGuinness, who I met last night with the two whistleblowers. I respect his commitment in respect of this issue and I do listen to his ideas. It was always my intention that there would be a second phase to this commission to investigate the care and decision-making in respect of others as well as Grace. Nobody will be excluded. I will repeat that: nobody will be excluded. However, I have listened to the concerns of Deputies Howlin, Cullinane, McGuinness, Murphy O'Mahony and others expressed. For the avoidance of any doubt, I have decided to recommend to Government that we make this completely explicit in the terms of reference. My objective was to have a clear focus on the care of Grace as the first phase of this work. I stand by that. There have already been a series of reports into the care of Grace but the facts of what happened and the reasons for certain key decisions are still not clear. I accept the Deputies' arguments on that. The commission provides the means to call witnesses and hear the evidence in order that we can finally learn the truth.

I am a very practical person. I listen to constructive and sensible ideas from people. I did not want this commission to continue its deliberations for years.

I want to have answers as quickly as possible to the case of Grace, who was resident with this foster family for so many years. That has always been my position. However, I have always been a listener when people have come into the Chamber to point out things having listened to others. I have tremendous time, as Deputy McGuinness and Deputy Howlin know, for the two whistleblowers. I have met them before and I met them again last night.

I am supporting Grace 100%. I want to get this moving. However, I also wish to ensure and put down a marker in order that the other people will not be excluded. However, as I have already said, I intend to circulate revised terms of reference to put at ease the minds of those concerned in respect of the imperative for the cases of others to be investigated in a second phase. It is important that we say this in respect of the broader debate. That is my clear position.

Several Deputies raised a number of issues. Considerable work has been done in respect of protecting vulnerable people in our society. Since I took over as Minister of State, I have been in contact with over 5,000 people who are working in the disability services. These include service providers, parents or people with disabilities themselves. Every time I meet these people, I ask about safety and protection on the campus or in the residential centre in question. My experience in the past seven or eight months suggests to me that things have improved. However, that does not mean we should not be vigilant.

I thank my colleagues for their views on this important debate. We need to focus on Grace and vulnerable adults with disabilities. They all deserve the truth and justice. We also deserve accountability. That is the message I want to send out to broader society. We care about vulnerable people in our society. We care passionately about people with disabilities. That is where we are and that is my position.

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