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

I thank the Tánaiste for his response. I reiterate that the Hayes family have been speaking to Deputy John Brassil and are very anxious that this does not become a political football. They are also anxious that their privacy would be respected. Given the trauma that has already been caused, they certainly do not want to go through all that again and that has been very clearly articulated to us. The lessons are there to be learned in terms of how we approach issues like this, even in today's world. We have had a number of cases relating to children and only recently, a number of worrying reports from Tusla. It is a warning to us and a reminder of the absolute necessity to keep looking for the highest of standards in terms of how State agencies conduct their affairs.

The only reason I have raised the issue of compensation is that the State generally takes a defensive approach to issues such as this, even when it is very clear that a wrong was done by it and when apologies have been issued by it. By the way, I am not articulating on behalf of anybody. Nobody has asked me to make this point. There comes a time for the State to take the lead in dealing with certain issues and certain events. It needs to do the right and the fair thing in a situation such as this. I appreciate the Tánaiste's comments.

See this speech in context