Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. What she said about the child sexual abuse report line is important. I ask her to restate the telephone number when she has the opportunity. I ask that because I am thinking in particular of a couple who were in touch with me, and with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, when she held this portfolio for a time. Their complaint was that they had realised that a child had suffered sexual abuse, but that they did not know where to turn. They said as well that the system was well placed to support the alleged perpetrator but, as parents, they did not know what hospital to go to or where to go for help. Therefore, it is important to have a dedicated telephone report line that can be called, and that is easily accessible, easily found on Google and functions as a single port of call to provide all these elements of advice.

The detection rates in this area are concerning. The Minister will be aware that they hover between 10% and 20% each year. The point made by the Minister about the withdrawal of complaints is important, because that has a big effect on the Garda being able to issue a caution, a summons or anything else, or to progress a case. This is about supporting victims right through the process and at every stage of it.

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