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

In June of this year, a scoping report on the sexual exploitation of children in State care by UCD academics - Dr. Mary Canning, Dr. Marie Keenan and Ms Ruth Breslin - was published. The report outlined in horrifying detail the predatory behaviour that these young people, mainly young girls, are being subjected to. We are told they are being manipulated, coerced or deceived into sexual activity in return for something they want or need, to the advantage of the perpetrator. We read how some of the most vulnerable children in this State, in State care, are going missing or running away from home or a care placement despite the fact that some have an intellectual disability, have suffered prior sexual abuse or neglect, or have engaged in alcohol or drug misuse.

Unfortunately, this frankly terrifying and explosive report was lost in the media noise generated by the RTÉ payments controversy. It has received nothing like the kind of media and political attention that it deserves, because it is very concerning.

I have tabled a number of parliamentary questions on this matter. The most recent reply left me almost speechless. I have been informed that almost five months on from the publication of this explosive report, the Department of children has made no contact with the Department of Justice to discuss these matters, nor has anyone from the Department of Justice reached out to the Department of children. How can this be? We know that the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 clearly states that a child below the age of sexual consent, which is 17, cannot consent to sexual activity. This clearly demonstrates that there is a legal and justice-related dimension to this issue, yet, in five months, there has been no engagement with or from the Department of Justice on the scoping report and its recommendations.

I and my staff have met Dr. Canning and Ms Breslin. We had an informative, fruitful and constructive discussion. They acknowledge that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, took the issue seriously, but there is clearly a desperate and almost unforgivable lack of urgency, which concerns many of us greatly. Urgency must be applied to this issue at an interdepartmental level. I ask the Tánaiste to ensure that attention is refocused on this highly significant report and that it becomes a priority of the Government, particularly the Departments of children and Justice, to progress the recommendations made in the report. Will the Tánaiste commit to doing that today?

See this speech in context