Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend Ms Rachel Barry, "Amy" and "Sarah" for their amazing bravery in reporting the appalling abuse they suffered as children staying in a foster family setting. Anyone who watched "RTÉ Investigates" last night could not help but be really moved and disturbed by Ms Barry telling her story. I commend her for her bravery and the other girls too. We have these isolated cases reported. We should not have to rely on television or the national broadcaster to bring these stories forward. We know that when we watch one such story that there are many more people across this country in the same position. Many of them have never been reported. Others were reported but were never listened to. Others went to the Garda but things were never processed. Like others who survived horrific abuse, their strength and courage is beyond remarkable.

What makes this case even more abhorrent is that the continuation of this abuse was openly facilitated by our State. It was facilitated to continue. As if that was not enough, the trial they had to endure to bring the perpetrator to account inflicted further torture on these young girls. Ms Barry described her experience within the court last night. That has to be changed. We have a responsibility as legislators to do that. I know the Domestic Violence Bill is going through the Dáil this week. However, there is much more we need to do. She went through all that in the trial just for him to get seven and a half years. That is not justice. Surely, no one can argue now against the introduction of sentencing guidelines that should be drafted by a sentencing committee. This would not encroach on the separation of powers or the autonomy of the Bench. However, it would ensure that prison sentences are proportionate to the crime committed. Day after day, we see perpetrators of domestic violence and abuse being let off, being given the most lenient sentences one could imagine and even being given suspended sentences as late as yesterday.

Until we do that, women and children will continue to be failed by this State. An independent inspection must be held as to how and why these children were failed. Was it the lack of social workers? For years, and indeed decades, under successive Governments, it has been said that there are not enough social workers and that the social workers that are there have impossible caseloads. Watching that programme last night, and because we do not have enough social workers or the protection in place, it crossed my mind as to how many children were being raped last night? How many children were being abused last night?

I commend the wonderful foster families that provide loving, secure homes for children. I know many of them personally. The vast majority of foster families really do provide loving, secure homes. However, we are not just talking about foster homes. We are talking about sexual abuse and abuse that happens in and outside many homes across the country. I encourage other families to come forward and to offer their homes to children who can no longer live with their biological parents.