Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

People might be aware that a few months ago in the Chamber I called on the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to look into a scoping exercise on St. John Ambulance. This has moved along and the Minister has been very proactive. I have a huge amount of confidence in the process, particularly with the appointment of Dr. Geoffrey Shannon. What I no longer have confidence in is the fact St. John Ambulance has stated it will carry out this review but according to my investigation it has not advertised this investigation or review of historical sexual abuse on any of its social media platforms, especially Facebook where it has a huge following. It seems to want this investigation to happen very quietly.

The reason I raise this today is because I have become very concerned over recent months. This investigation was kicked off because of one person but I believe there are other people and names coming forward with regard to historical sexual abuse. I kept looking at the name of the one person this investigation centres around wondering why I knew it. After a year, I decided to ring a community worker in the Dublin 12 and Dublin 8 area. I asked why I knew the name. I am absolutely terrified now because of why I know the name. It is because for decades the person had full access to people in addiction and in the youth sector in Dublin 12 and Dublin 8, recruiting and teaching first aid, which was the exact thing he used to groom people when they were cadets in St. John Ambulance.

I call on the House and the Leader to contact the Department, the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. We need to find a way to contact the youth and community sector and the addiction sector in these areas and figure out how we can support them to make people aware. These are very vulnerable people who will not pick up that an investigation has happened. Many of them do not use Twitter or read The Irish Times. They have no idea this investigation is happening. I have held three meetings with three boards of management in these communities. They are trying to figure out how they can put this on the radar of people. These are vulnerable people and we are afraid to trigger them. What supports will we have if they do come forward? I ask Senators, particularly those based in Dublin 8 and Dublin 12, to find a way. The Departments and St. John Ambulance should be looking at where this person had access and directly engage on it. It should not be up to me to try to help a local project make a poster that somebody will see when they walk into use that service, which has no idea about how to support people if they do come forward.This is a matter of real urgency. St. John Ambulance needs to step up quickly and make an effort to get what is needed in this investigation. It must work with us instead of trying to create a silent investigation, which it does not promote in any shape or form.