Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)

I have already written to the former Minister for children, Deputy O'Gorman, the Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, the Minister for children, Deputy Foley, and Tusla in respect of this case. I understand that the Minister of State does not know the background to the case and, in many ways, I am throwing at him the details of a case that is hard to get one's head around in a short time.

It is impossible for the Minister of State to be able to respond to this in detail; I do understand that.

I acknowledge there are thousands of good people working in Tusla every single day doing a phenomenal job and they are under fierce pressure. There are 100,000 children annually who are being referred to Tusla, which is quite a shocking reflection of what is actually happening in the country. Approximately 35,000 more than are sitting the leaving certificate are getting referred to Tusla on an annual basis. I understand that it does not have enough staff and I understand how difficult it is to be able to adjudicate. A person would have to have the wisdom of Solomon to be able to understand who is right and who is wrong in some of these cases. However,this is a phenomenally serious case, and it is a case I want the Minister of State to take on board with regard to his Department. Rather than sending me to Ministers who are not here and who I already have contacted, I ask him to take this on as a personal responsibility to try to find a solution.

This is a young child who is currently, it is alleged, in the charge of a person who is abusing them. For any mother to see a child first of all abused is a heart-wrenching, mind-bending shock. I just cannot imagine how a person would get their head over that situation, let alone for that child to be left in that scenario. There is clear evidence here that Tusla has not done its job and that the staff within Tusla have done significantly wrong by this child. This is not the only case that is coming to me. A large number of cases that are similar are coming to me. I do not imagine all of them are true, but I do think there is a systemic problem. I want the Minister of State to take responsibility to see that there is an investigation into this. Further, I believe there should be an independent panel of experts who become the last opportunity for a family to seek justice in these cases.

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