Mary White (Fianna Fail)

How can a mother abuse her children over a six-year period, subjecting them to incest, sexual abuse and neglect? Apparently the community, school and relatives all knew about it. The HSE social workers were called in as far back as 1996. The abuse mentioned in the recent court case took place between 1998 and 2004. We are told that subject to no unforeseeable impediments, the investigation into the matter is expected to be completed within six months. Why should it take six months?

I want the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce the constitutional amendment on children. The Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2007, which resulted from extensive consultations by the then Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan, contains a number of proposals to amend the Constitution regarding children, covering such diverse areas as children's rights, adoption, collection and exchange of soft information, and absolute and strict liability. This legislation should be brought before the House and passed forthwith.