Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Last week, while we were all distracted by the farce at RTÉ, Dr. Mary Canning and Ruth Breslin of UCD published their report, Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland. As the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, outlined to me in response to a parliamentary question, the findings in the report are alarming. I would go so far as to say they are terrifying, deeply disturbing and sickening. Clearly, the procedures against child sexual exploitation introduced by Tusla in recent years have failed miserably. They have failed at a catastrophic level for these children who are being groomed and exploited by gangs of predatory men. Will the Government commit to providing every resource necessary to further the research that is being carried out? Will it stand ready to demand accountability from Tusla or any other agency that has failed these children in the worst possible way?

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