Maria Corrigan (Fianna Fail)

I am thankful for the opportunity to raise this issue and I thank the Minister for remaining in the House so late in the night. I am conscious that he has had a long day. However, this is a very important and sensitive issue and I have been raising it since before I had the honour of becoming a Member of the Seanad.

At present, there is an inspectorate for children's residential services. However, if one is providing residential services for children with a disability, unaccompanied minors or adults with an intellectual disability, one is exempt from inspection. This is bizarre, indefensible and completely unacceptable.

In recent months, the publication of the Ryan report provoked considerable reaction and very sincerely expressed sentiments to the effect that what happened to the children referred to in the report should never be allowed to happen again in the State. It is very clear from reports such as the Ryan report and the Ferns Report that the children who were victimised were the most vulnerable and had little, if any, voice. Today, those who are most vulnerable and who have little, if any, voice are children with disabilities in residential care, unaccompanied minors in residential care and adults with an intellectual disability in residential care.

I have very deep admiration for the Minister of State, Deputy John Moloney, and appreciate the commitment he made to me in our recent debate on the Ryan report. He undertook to revisit the decision to defer the introduction of the inspectorate. I would appreciate it if the Minister had available an update on the establishment of an inspectorate for these very vulnerable people.