Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his detailed reply. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, contacted my office to indicate he was unable to be in attendance, and I accept that. This issue is serious and needs to be dealt with as quickly as possible. Action needs to be taken as quickly as possible as well. I note the reference to a number of agencies that have responsibilities. That is the worst possible situation, where a number of agencies confer together to ensure they provide the best possible service arising from their conference. The situation is wholly unacceptable because no one person or organisation is responsible and no one report is made to an agency, person, individual or court. Nobody does that.

When children or women are under its care, the State has an obligation to ensure that the most rigid rules apply. No predator, young or old, has the right to take poetic licence to make, abuse or bypass the law of the land to get self-gratification in a particular situation, such as has been described.

I accept the Minister of State is bona fides in relation to this matter but let us not forget one thing. All men, women and children have parents and there is a concern among parents. Somebody may ask how these young women arrived in care homes. They arrived for different reasons. They have been referred to care homes, presumably by the HSE or in some cases by the courts. I am not so certain but one thing that is certain is that something must be done urgent. When we wake up tomorrow morning, and they all wake up tomorrow morning, there must be a new rule on the door, one which says "You shall not pass here; this will not continue." I thank the Minister of State again for his comprehensive reply.

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