Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I welcome the Minister of State for this pertinent debate. I have no problem supporting the Fine Gael motion. When I discovered that the Garda Commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, and the HSE chief executive, Professor Brendan Drumm, were the only two people who have technically seen the report, I realised we must do something about it. The report into the Monageer tragedy is as notable for what it omits as for what it includes. It is difficult to believe the chief executive officer of the Health Service Executive, Professor Brendan Drumm, may read the report, including the sections which are blacked out in the published version, but may not pass on to his staff any of its recommendations. It is not surprising in light of this approach which does not make sense that some people have labelled the report a whitewash.

The reputations of individuals appear to take precedence over the protection of children and reform of the system. All over the country, there are not enough social workers. I support the motion seeking to have the report published in full. Perhaps it could be published without personal references. It is not possible for Senators to determine if this option is possible because we cannot read the full report.

It is shocking that if a child is not deemed to be at immediate risk, the case is placed on a list to be assigned a social worker. Currently, the names of 6,500 at risk children are on a list and child protection services outside Dublin are only available during office hours. I am aware from gardaí of the problems the force faces when something goes wrong at weekends or after hours when children are placed in Garda stations or prison cells because suitable places are not available.

One of the key recommendations in the report is to establish a national out-of-hours social work service. I understand this proposal is unlikely to be implemented for cost reasons, which is unacceptable. However, I welcome the decision to introduce a new emergency foster care system for at risk children.

Other sections of the report point to a disjointed communications system in the Health Service Executive and failures on the part of the Garda Síochána. The system lost track of Adrian Dunne and his family because they moved so many times. Many nurses have records on vulnerable families who they are unable to locate. The suggestion that social welfare payments should be linked to the community nursing scheme, if implemented, could help address this problem. The introduction of a measure along these lines could offer a solution.

The Monageer report states that even if the Garda or HSE social services had called to the home of the Dunne family during the weekend in which the deaths occurred, the tragedy may not have been averted. I gather gardaí drove past the house but did not call. This conclusion is too convenient. Given the significant difference highly qualified social workers can make, it is inaccurate to dismiss the influence they could have had in the case of the Dunne family.

The provision of services is urgently required. Mr. Des Kavanagh, general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland, stated that for resource reasons mental health services are only available on a voluntary basis and described the current position was "a bit chaotic" and "unacceptable". Mr. Kavanagh also noted some positive outcomes from the tragedy, including the response of the Wexford mental health services in establishing mental health liaison officers and nurses in the accident and emergency unit of Wexford General Hospital as well as the appointment of a suicide screening nurse who is available to work with general practitioners. It is intended to extend this service, which currently covers one half of County Wexford, to cover the entire county.

The Monageer report is vital in that it highlights deficiencies in the child protection and mental health systems. It seems, however, that a tragedy must take place before action is taken. The report appears to suggest that upholding the rights of individuals takes precedence over health and social services. It certainly took precedence over the well-being of the children who lost their lives.

The Monageer report is not the first report to be censured and by not making anybody accountable, it is debatable that it will provide an incentive to make services better and more responsive. For this reason, I support the motion.

I am concerned that a similar incident could occur. We cannot blame others for the problem as achieving a solution is in our own hands. Senator Mary White made an interesting contribution. Citizens are concerned about the Monageer tragedy and hope we will find a solution which helps avoid similar cases in future.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to the House. I understand he was unable to attend earlier. My concern is that the well-being of children does not take precedence over the protection of individuals who may have been involved in this case. By blacking out such a large part of the report, we are protecting the individuals involved and failing to protect children. I support the Fine Gael Party motion and urge the Minister of State to find a way to publish the report, possibly by substituting pseudonyms for the names of those who it seeks to protect.