Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)

I thank the Tánaiste for his comprehensive response, and more importantly, his commitment to tackle this issue. I accept there is a need to resource An Garda Síochána with regard to technology. There is no doubt about that. Every resource needs to be used to protect these vulnerable children who are subjected to a nightmare of sexual abuse exploitation. That is my main concern. The findings of the report need to be looked at and responded to in greater detail. I had the pleasure of meeting the academics involved in compiling this report. They have legitimate concerns. Our laws need to become a lot tougher on the issue of child exploitation. I and many others want to make sure these predators - people who exploit children - face the full hammer of the law. It should come down on them heavy and a message be sent out that that is what anyone who tries to exploit vulnerable children in State care will be facing. The message that needs to go out is that it will not be tolerated and, more importantly, that we are monitoring the situation. To the best of my knowledge, there are children being picked up from airports where they are coming in unaccompanied and they are being placed in all sorts of settings.

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