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

We all agree that crimes against children are among the most heinous. Crimes of a sexual nature against children are particularly unspeakable. As a society, we need to do all we can to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice. I understand tonight's edition of "RTÉ Investigates" will cover some cases of historical abuse in scouting organisations from the 1970s and 1980s. It is always very harrowing to hear survivors describe awful experiences of abuse when they should have been safe, protected from harm and able to have a normal childhood. The Government has been aware of these issues for some time. It has been engaging with Scouting Ireland to ensure its current child protection and safeguarding policies are fit for purpose and greatly enhanced by comparison with those that applied in forebear organisations, including those mentioned by the Deputy. To that end, Scouting Ireland is working closely with Tusla. I was encouraged to hear my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone, recently report her satisfaction with the progress Scouting Ireland had made on safeguarding and governance. However, she recognises that further work remains to be completed in that regard.

Keeping children and young people safe always has the highest priority. It is vital that everything continues to be done to ensure the thousands of children who attend scouting organisations throughout the country are safe, protected and free to enjoy themselves and avail of the many benefits that accrue from participation in such organisations. A great deal of work is being done to ensure there are no ongoing concerns about Scouting Ireland, to assure parents whose children become scouts that their children are safe and protected and to make sure the child protection standards that were not in place in the 1970s and 1980s when they should have been are now in place. The Government will consider the establishment of a commission of investigation or a statutory inquiry of some nature. I will discuss the matter with the Minister. As is always the case when it comes to statutory investigations, we need to tread carefully and get it right. Under no circumstances would we want to carry out a statutory inquiry that would jeopardise any potential or ongoing prosecution. It is possible to undertake a statutory inquiry without putting prosecutions in jeopardy. It is a question of getting the terms of reference right. I will discuss the issue with the Minister on foot of ongoing events, including tonight's programme.

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