Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. First of all, if you will indulge me, a Cheann Comhairle, if the Government wants to schedule statements on the important issues of child protection and safeguarding, that is in its gift. I want to be clear that, for our part, these unauthorised references to which the Minister of State has referred were unacceptable and reprehensible.

Action has been taken. The two individuals concerned have lost their jobs and are no longer members of Sinn Féin, and that is as it should be. We take these matters very, very seriously indeed. I have taken swift action by way of response. In the course of our statements, the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the parties of Government will have to also make clear what sanctions they have adopted in cases in which very senior members of their parties have written character references for convicted rapists and child abusers.

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