Results 3,381-3,400 of 7,126 for speaker:Alan Farrell

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I understand and accept that. I call Senator Warfield.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Rather than the Senator's question, what would be best practice in such a scenario?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Everything is in our remit until it is not. I welcome Deputy Ó Laoghaire to the meeting as a non-member of this committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank Deputy Sherlock and the witnesses from Tusla. We are in the third hour. I have an anecdotal observation based on criticisms that are frequently levelled at Tusla, relating to the public's trust in the organisation in light of recent events, including Mr. Justice Charleton's view on the matter. I am sure the witnesses, and especially their communications team, are aware of it. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank Ms Creamer, Mr. Gibson, Mr. Smyth and Mr. Lee for their presentation and answering members' questions. I propose that we suspend for 15 minutes, given that we are in our third hour. I am sure that members of the public in the Gallery also wish to take a break.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: On behalf of the joint committee, from Scouting Ireland I welcome to our second session Mr. Adrian Tennant, chairman of the board of directors; Dr. John Lawlor, chief executive officer; and Mr. Ian Elliott, interim safeguarding manager. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I thank Mr. Tennant. Before I invite members of the committee to ask questions, I propose to reverse the order from the earlier session, if that is okay with the delegates.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Deputy Neville will be followed by Senator Warfield, Deputy Lisa Chambers, Deputy Rabbitte, Senator Freeman, Deputy Sherlock, Deputy Mitchell and me. Before I ask Deputy Neville to open the questioning, as Chairman of the committee and an ordinary Member of the Oireachtas, I wish to make it clear that Scouting Ireland is an invaluable organisation and acknowledge the significant steps it has...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: On the suggestion made by Tusla that individuals within Scouting Ireland were "compromised", I think the representatives of Scouting Ireland will agree is quite a significant charge, primarily because we are talking about individuals' professional ethics, etc. Tusla stated that "key personnel ... in safeguarding [positions] may have been compromised and further consideration may have to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Will Mr. Tennant confirm the figure of 180 individuals who have been in contact?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I made the point to Mr. Smyth that Scouting Ireland has been under extraordinary scrutiny. This committee has been involved for over a year, Mr. Elliott for longer and Dr. Lawlor for longer again. We all have various roles to play but I am referring to what we are trying to achieve collectively by way of service improvements, including the latest iteration in this regard, which is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Given that Mr. Elliott has been providing information to the statutory authorities, namely, the Garda and Tusla, does it include names?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Given that Mr. Elliott has been keeping comprehensive notes and providing them to the statutory authorities, did Tusla confirm to him that the person who contacted it with the complaint was one of the individuals named? Did it not provide him with that information?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: My second last question relates to the establishment of facts when dealing with an allegation that might be made, be it in respect of a den, an overnight trip or another activity. Tusla has made a significant observation and contribution on the subject of interviewing or the verification of what constitutes an interview and what is simply establishing facts in order to make progress on an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: I have to go back to my initial comment on the publication of the letter from Tusla and the fact it contains very specific information. I queried - cautioned perhaps is a better description - the terminology used. Unfortunately, I must refer to the fact there is an allegation using specific terminology with regard to conduct. I do not want the witnesses to answer. I simply make the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Of course.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: In fairness, Dr. Lawlor, I do not think that we have received that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: The only information that the committee has is a breakdown of the victims who have been in contact with Scouting Ireland's helpline, which I put in the correspondence.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: Aside from that, the information that the Deputy is seeking is completely different. If it was submitted but did not get to us, we hope the witnesses can figure that out.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Governance and Child Safeguarding Issues in Scouting Ireland: Tusla and Scouting Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Alan Farrell: In fairness, it is Deputy Rabbitte's question.