Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate our colleague, Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee, and her husband, Mr. John Lee, our colleague in the press, on their birth of their son, Edward Anthony Lee, on Monday. She will be back with us soon.

The Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon, published his annual report this week in which he raised his concern that homeless children and children with disabilities are not being prioritised in the receipt of State services. These children are the most vulnerable and, as such, must be protected most. We learn from the report that a child with intellectual disabilities was left in a hospital for three months because the Health Service Executive, HSE, could not find suitable residential accommodation for him. This depiction recalls the scenes of vulnerable children in orphanages in Chernobyl, but it is the reality in modern Ireland. It is incredible that the State is actively neglecting our children. It sickens me. Further, the report highlighted that many children are placed in inappropriate placements and that the number of complaints about Tusla is most unsatisfactory. Will the Leader ask the Minister to take heed of this report from the Ombudsman for Children and to actively address each of the complaints raised?

Yesterday, Mr. Seán FitzPatrick was acquitted of wrongdoing by Judge Aylmer in the Four Courts. The first reaction of many was that this would only happen in Ireland. However, when we dig deeper we learn that there was serious incompetence in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, and this was highlighted by the trial judge. It is clear from the judgment that the ODCE did not conduct an impartial and unbiased investigation. It is very worrying and a poor reflection on the ODCE that a judge felt it necessary to highlight publicly the inadequacies in that office. It is very unusual for a judge to do so. The judge essentially said that the office lacked objectivity and criticised the office for shredding documents pertaining to the file, which is extraordinary. The ODCE is the body responsible for policing corporate Ireland and ensuring we have the highest standards of corporate governance. Every person charged with a criminal offence, no matter how unpopular they are, is entitled to a fair investigation by the relevant State authorities. When simple fair procedures are not followed by an agency in its prosecutions it casts doubt over the competence of the agency and is ultimately an embarrassment for the country. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to address the House on this matter and on the efficacy of the ODCE.