Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The report from Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the State's special rapporteur on child protection, on the use by An Garda Síochána of section 12 of the Child Care Act 1991 and the details that emerged on last night's "RTÉ Investigates" programme are, as the Taoiseach has acknowledged, both frightening and scandalous. According to Dr. Shannon, co-operation between Tusla and An Garda Síochána is "overwhelmingly inadequate". He made 17 recommendations. As some of these are so basic and common sense, it raises the question as to why these were not put in place long before this. For example, there is a recommendation on the need for all gardaí to undergo diversity training and the need for inter-agency co-operation. The big failures in the system are the lack of capacity, the absence of an out-of-hours service and Tusla's reliance on private foster care services.

Dr. Shannon stated that vulnerable children are getting an inferior service and that it is absolutely scandalous that some of these private services refuse to take children with challenging behaviour. I cannot think of a more telling indictment of the State's child protection services than the charge that vulnerable children are receiving an inferior service. I am very certain the Taoiseach is upset by this. However, I am sure that he will also accept that expressions of regret just will not cut it anymore. The child protection system is broken and the Taoiseach's Government is charged with fixing it. I call on the Taoiseach to ensure Dr. Shannon's 17 recommendations are implemented in full and that this is done immediately.

Citizens will be shocked to hear that child protection training for gardaí is basically non-existent. Contrary to what the Taoiseach said about strategic meetings at a senior level, according to this report, the lack of co-operation between Tusla and An Garda Síochána is simply breath-taking. Last week, we discussed the crisis in child and adolescent mental health services. This week it is a new set of scandals. What will be next week or the week after? This is not the first set of revelations about Tusla. It is the duty of the Taoiseach's Government to change that reality. The CEO of Tusla, Mr. Fred McBride, and Tusla must be held accountable. He should appear before the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. The Minister, Deputy Zappone, should appear before the Dáil as quickly as possible to give the Government's response to this damning report.

The initial response of Tusla, apparently attempting to undermine Dr. Shannon, is totally and absolutely unacceptable. That is the knee-jerk reaction of most of the system in Ireland when criticised, whether by a whistleblower or the special rapporteur on child protection. It is to undermine the criticism first. My questions are very simple. Will the Taoiseach fully commit to ensuring 24-hour access to social workers throughout this State as an urgent priority? A total of 70% of the children taken in under section 12 were cases the gardaí were already aware of. Will the Taoiseach ensure that these cases are immediately followed up on to ensure the welfare of these children, including the children at the centre of the "RTE Investigates" programme? Will he initiate a whole-of-Government response, rather than just a ministerial response, to this scandal, including an audit like that carried out by Dr. Shannon being conducted across the entire child protection system?

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