Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. First, I want to recognise the Deputy's consistent advocacy on this issue. The Deputy and Senator Ruane in the Seanad have both been strongly vocal on this issue.

I know reports of historical sexual abuse in St. John Ambulance Ireland have been highlighted over recent years. As the Deputy states, the case initially concerned three men who made allegations against one named adult. Two of these individuals were under 18 at the time of the abuse and all three people and the accused were volunteers with the St. John Ambulance organisation. A fourth man came forward in November 2020 and a fifth came forward in the latter part of 2021. Recent media reports state that at least two further people have come forward.

As I am sure the Deputy is aware, the Charities Regulator, under the aegis of the Department of Rural and Community Development, is Ireland's statutory regulator for charitable organisations, including St. John Ambulance, so my Department does not have a role in the governance of that body. Of course, child sexual abuse is not consigned to the past and it is my role and that of my Department, in collaboration with Tusla, to protect children now.

I met the board of St. John Ambulance in late 2020. I understand the organisation has worked with Tusla to ensure compliance with obligations under Children First and has accepted the recommendations of Tusla to arrange an independent review of the issues raised. Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, senior counsel, an internationally recognised expert in child protection, was subsequently commissioned by the board of St. John Ambulance in March 2021 to conduct the independent review into the handling of historical child sexual abuse within St. John Ambulance. The findings will be presented to the board of St. John Ambulance in the first instance but it is my expectation that St. John Ambulance will ensure publication of the report. The terms of reference of the review, as fully agreed by Dr. Shannon, set out that he will examine how St. John Ambulance handled past allegations of child sexual abuse relating to the individual in question and any other allegations made. The review is also tasked with examining the current standard of child safeguarding at the organisation.

Like the Deputy, I have met one of the individuals who has come forward. I commend that person and all others who have often at immense personal cost come forward to take cases and, in particular, shared their experiences publicly. I strongly encourage anybody who has knowledge of these matters to come forward and speak with Dr. Shannon.

Dr. Shannon has provided a dedicated website to support his review that can be accessed at . The site enables people to make direct contact with Dr. Shannon and more details of the review are available on the site. It is important that we give Dr. Shannon the opportunity to progress his work independently and form his conclusions. I look forward to seeing the findings. Everybody recognises the major depth of expertise that Dr. Shannon brings to this matter. Again, I urge anyone with relevant information to contact Dr. Shannon and bring this information to light.

To answer the Deputy's specific question, I have no direct power of compulsion in terms of the publication of the report. I state unequivocally, however, that I want to see the report published at the end of the process.

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