Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is not just a matter of individual cases. It is not the case that most of the 209 women are being supported in the way that was promised and that there are maybe a few outliers that have been missed. That is not what we hear. It is not what was said outside the gates of Leinster House yesterday, it is not what was said to me by Emma this morning and it was not what was said to me by one of the women involved in supporting the 209 women. That is not what they are saying. They are saying that in some isolated cases, liaison officers have been appointed. In some isolated cases, a conversation is beginning about what supports are available but it is not the norm. The Government was quick to move and implement actions regarding its own political situation. People have been fired, briefings have been given, the Taoiseach has done his Twitter videos and a full investigation is already under way with someone in from abroad. It is happening already. How is it possible that this Government has the ability to implement an international investigation that is live on the ground and yet does not appear to be capable of bringing together these women and liaison officers? That does not seem to make any sense. Can I pass on a request directly from Emma and some other women involved? It is for an event to be organised where women and families can be brought together to meet the officials, and whoever it is they need to meet to help them to figure out what supports are available and what they can get because they are not getting them.

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