Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Taoiseach aware of the content of the review published at 3 p.m. in Government Buildings regarding sexual assault treatment services in the State? What is the Government doing to address the crisis in these services highlighted in the report and the crisis faced by victims because of the limited services available? A fortnight has barely passed since the legal and political system in this jurisdiction was thrown into turmoil as a result of a Supreme Court decision. However, the issue of the lack of services and supports for the victims of sexual crime was not addressed. There is a bounden duty on the Taoiseach to address them.

Given the report has been available since last November, what has the Taoiseach and his Government been doing in the meantime to ensure the implementation of its recommendations? What is his plan? How many recommendations have been acted on by Government? Against the backdrop of the recent crisis, which quite correctly occupied the mind of every citizen, what has the Government done and what does it intend to do to ensure the crisis in these services is addressed effectively?

Is the Taoiseach aware that the treatment centre for the victims of sexual assault in Dublin, based at the Rotunda Hospital in his constituency, undertakes 300 forensic examinations annually, yet it cannot cope because of a shortage of staff and total under-resourcing? This is also reflected in the other service centres in Waterford, Letterkenny and Cork. Only the latter receives direct Government funding as a result of a decision by a former Minister for Health and Children from the area. Special treatment centres for the victims of sexual assault are not directly funded by Government, they are totally under-resourced and under-staffed and they are incapable of addressing the current crisis. Will the Taoiseach outline the actions he and his Government intend to take to address this serious flaw in service provision in this State?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the report is being implemented and all the relevant agencies have been involved in its implementation. The resourcing for this was reflected in the Book of Estimates. The Health Service Executive has been involved in providing services and I am not sure what crisis the Deputy is talking about. Perhaps he is referring to the Rape Crisis Centre's engagement with the Minster of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, regarding additional resources. I met a delegation from the centre late last year or early this year regarding a number of issues. However, the professional and counselling services, which provide help and support to victims, are in place. I am sure the Ministers involved are dealing with the new recommendations. I am not clear what part of the service the Deputy is referring to. The report was based on improving and enhancing these services and that is being implemented. The Rape Crisis Centre has sought additional resources and I have been engaged with the Minister and the Department on that issue.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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The Taoiseach must be acknowledging that he is not conscious of the content of the report, which was published in Government Buildings earlier by two of his junior ministerial colleagues. The report, following on from the review, highlights a real crisis, with people who have the courage to come forward as victims of sexual assault finding the services they need are not in place. The lack of availability of trained doctors and forensic nurse examiners is a real crisis. Insufficient qualified personnel are available to carry out the necessary examinations.

The crisis is such in the Taoiseach's constituency that, unless a victim initiates a prosecution through the Garda, he or she will only be seen by appointment. Surely that is unacceptable. The report states that such is the fall-down in service provision in this area, victims are being dissuaded — this is the language used — from coming forward and pressing charges against predators and those who initiated these assaults.

This is a serious situation. The Taoiseach asked to what crisis I was referring. We have heard that response to other issues applying in society. There is a real crisis and a bounden responsibility on him and his colleagues to become au fait with what is recommended and to ensure it is implemented as a matter of urgency. Will the Taoiseach implement in full the recommendations of the review which was sponsored by two Departments?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is untrue that a service is not in place.

Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It is inadequate.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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The service, which deals with therapy, treatment and psychological counselling, is good.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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What about in the centres I named?

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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Perhaps there should be more centres and my colleagues continually seek more professional staff in all areas. There is a difficulty, as I pointed to the Deputy recently regarding another service, in sourcing staff for professional and technical posts. There is a necessity to recruit highly trained professional staff and we have been recruiting such staff from abroad because we do not have sufficient numbers in this State. We have tried to increase the number of therapists in a number of areas to meet our needs. If aspects of this report show there are new heights to which we must bring the service, in order to try to improve it and have more centres, I am sure that such an objective will be examined in the process of preparing estimates to provide this centre. However——

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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It was promised for this year.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Deputy Ó Caoláin should allow the Taoiseach to speak without interruption.

Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)
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As I understand it, they received additional resources in the last Book of Estimates, while this report was being prepared. There was an outstanding issue with regard to some independent agencies who lacked adequate funds and who made their case. I met them to discuss this matter. While I do not know how discussions ended, the agencies made a case in that respect. As for professional services, any report that examines this area will always show that one can do better in this regard and that one should have more centres, counselling and therapy available. Thereafter, people will use such services more and this is what I understand my colleagues to have been endeavouring to do in conjunction with the Health Service Executive.