Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Government's willingness to engage with the Dáil on this issue and that the motion was withdrawn. The key issue is the inclusion of others who were at that home, because it stretches credibility to suggest that just one person was badly abused.

Indeed, others have come forward, including the parents of a girl who was allegedly sexually abused with implements in the same foster home as Grace. The family of another child has come forward. We heard testimony yesterday from Bridget whose sister, who has the mental age of a three year old, went to the foster home for respite care.

I suggest that the Minister sticks very closely to the Dignam recommendations to avoid any unnecessary problems arising today or tomorrow, particularly with regard to the timeline around the suppression of information. The first whistleblower came forward in 1992, and in that context it is unacceptable that the investigation would only examine the period from 2009 onwards. It must examine the entire period from when the whistle was first blown. The treatment of whistleblowers by the system, that is, by the health board initially and then by the HSE, must also be included in the terms of reference. The Chairman must be given some flexibility in terms of the overlap of some of the issues between one case and other cases. I understand the Taoiseach's point about a modular approach and I also understand the necessity of striking a balance between time and getting at the truth. I appreciate that and with goodwill all round, we can reach a satisfactory consensus on this matter.

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