Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is fine to suggest there was but one social work office in one area at one time, as the Minister did, but Mr. Justice Peter Charleton lays bare what was happening. As he said, "The Tusla letter wrongly accusing Maurice McCabe was opened by his wife in January 2016." He also stated that, after all the issues that arose, "Tusla were slow to respond to the public request for cooperation by the tribunal. Statements made were laconic to the point of being mysterious." Imagine. The Minister stated that there was poor management and poor leadership. Do we know what we are dealing with here? Mr. Justice Charleton's report refers to Tusla's subsequent failure to face up to and admit its considerable failings and stupidity. This is absolutely damning stuff and must be treated with the utmost seriousness.

The agency has incredible power, as we all know. We now see it was grossly mismanaged and that a wholesale review of its entire operation is necessary. I accept the Minister has admitted she was extremely disappointed that the tribunal found Tusla slow to respond to public requests for co-operation. She stressed that things are changing for the better. She said she got a new report yesterday on how things will change. It is a number of years into the operation of the organisation. We warned at the time it was set up, when so many staff were hived off from the HSE, that there was no proper planning or management.

See this speech in context