Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister's reply is totally unacceptable. The protection and vulnerability of the children were never in the minds of the HSE or Tusla. An independent review panel was set up. In April 2018, in response to Deputy McDonald, the Taoiseach said the publication of the report was almost complete. It was only completed in December. It is with Tusla, a body that Mr. Justice Charleton said has an inability to reflect. A public body paid for by the taxpayer has a fundamental duty of self-scrutiny in pursuit of the highest standards. The administration of Tusla was found to be sorely lacking in application and dedication to duty. In respect of the criminal proceedings, a HIQA report that the Minister commissioned pointed out that it is imperative that Tusla ensures its own operational arrangements and does not allow criminal investigations to impede its statutory duty to safeguard children. The children were abused. The facts are out, unfortunately. The Central Criminal Court in Dublin heard all those facts last year. Out of 29 sample charges, the man was convicted of 23. We know all of that and, unfortunately, the children, who are now young adults, know all of that. What they want is some type of accountability from the system and an independent review panel's report to be published. If it is not to be published, why not?

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