Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The national review panel was asked to investigate this case in April 2016, which is when the matter was referred. The panel is an independent body consisting of independent professionals from a range of disciplines engaged for their professional expertise. Tusla staff and some former children in care and their families have been interviewed by the panel. Tusla awaits the outcome of the review and has agreed to act on all of its findings and recommendations. I do not have the terms of reference in front of me. As I say, it is an independent panel.

In the context of foster carers and foster families, it is important to note that foster parents are wonderful people in the vast majority of cases. They take vulnerable children who are often troubled, neglected or abandoned into their homes and look after them. We want more people to do this. It is important that we do not do anything which might discourage people from becoming foster parents or create the impression that they are not properly vetted. Before someone becomes a foster parent, there are several months of checks, including a medical check and a Garda check, a link-in with a social worker and training in child protection. We know, however, from recent reviews carried out by HIQA, which is now responsible for inspecting foster care, that this has not happened in some cases where Garda checks have not been conducted as frequently as they might have been. It is evident that we need to do a great deal more work in this area to ensure we raise standards further.

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