Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department is working on this. As the Deputy said, the key recommendation of Judge Dr. Geoffrey Shannon's independent review report on the handling of past complaints of abuse in St. John Ambulance was the appointment of a national safeguarding officer by the St. John Ambulance Ireland organisation. The national safeguarding lead is to work with the organisation for an agreed, specified time to ensure it is fully compliant with the safeguarding regime in operation. The safeguarding officer's role is essential in terms of ensuring a robust review and oversight and governance of child protection and safeguarding.

On 4 January this year, officials from the Department of children met with the commissioner and interim chair of the board of St. John Ambulance Ireland to discuss the November update in respect of implementation of recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his independent review. During that meeting with Department officials, St. John Ambulance Ireland made the Department aware of the need for financial support in order to fund the post of safeguarding lead. The Minister has made a commitment to assist with the funding of this critical role. Three separate progress reports or response documents were published by the organisation during 2023 in respect of the progress of the implementation of Dr. Shannon's recommendations. These documents were published by St. John Ambulance Ireland in March, July and November 2023. That is just to correct an impression that nothing was done at all in terms of the recommendations. I just want to put that on the record of the House.

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