Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome today's very good news that the unemployment rate has fallen again. There has been a remarkable month-on-month fall from 10.1% this time last year to the current rate of 8.6%. Some 5,125 new jobs were created in January alone. It is really impressive that, on average, more than 1,000 jobs are being created each week. I want to note this significant achievement. I am sure all my colleagues will join me in welcoming it.

I commend the Irish Penal Reform Trust on its release or launch this morning of an important new report based on research conducted by academics in Queen's University. The report, Out on the Inside, documents the experiences of LGBT people in Irish prisons. This groundbreaking research is the first of its kind because we have no data on the sexuality of prisoners. This research, which aims to shine a light on a marginalised group of people, conveys some very disturbing findings regarding the experiences of LGBT prisoners in Ireland. I commend it to the House and commend the Irish Penal Reform Trust for producing it today. I would like to express grave concern about the revelations of abuse in a foster home in the south east which occurred over a prolonged period of time. I know every colleague shares my concern about that. I note reports were carried out, but these have not yet been published. Garda investigations are ongoing. There may well be evidence that points towards an offence of reckless endangerment, something about which we need to be mindful in any debates on this issue. I commend the social worker who blew the whistle on the appalling extent of the abuse and the numbers of children who may have been affected.

I commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has announced the intention to set up a commission of investigation once Conor Dignam, senior counsel, has produced his report, which I understand is due in April. A number of things are going on. The director general of the HSE is before the Committee of Public Accounts today and the Minister of State, Deputy Lynch, will come before the Dáil later today to discuss the issue. It is a matter about which we should all be gravely concerned.