Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

I should have started by acknowledging those in the Public Gallery. I thank them for being here.

To speak to amendment No. 6, what is being asked here is that there would be professional support provided for victims and survivors.Counselling supports are currently provided through a scheme that was established back in 2000 following the Taoiseach's apology in 1999. It is provided through the national counselling service through the HSE. From the very outset, this has been made available to all adults in Ireland who experienced childhood physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect in any setting. That includes industrial but also community or familial settings. Those who have experienced abuse are prioritised through that system. Senators might ask why we are putting it in this Bill if it is here already. By putting it specifically in the Bill, it means there is a statutory right. If for whatever reason the HSE says it does not have the money or the funding is reducing, this Bill clearly states that funding must be provided because there is a statutory right to any victim of abuse set out in the institutions that are mentioned, that they would receive that counselling and support. In terms of expertise and knowledge, the HSE is required to ensure that any person working for it has expertise and experience and is qualified working with various types of trauma. I know from my previous role as Minister for Justice, particularly in the roll-out of the zero tolerance strategy around domestic and sexual violence, one of the key elements of that strategy is training, upskilling and making sure we have as many therapists and professionals as possible who are up to skill and have the prerequisites when it comes to delivering these services and supports. There is more work that we need to do to make sure we have as many of those professionals as possible. That is a whole-of-government strategy which is being progressed by the HSE and the Department of Health. It is on that basis that I cannot accept the amendment. The supports are there and what we are doing in the Bill is putting them on a statutory footing. It is not that we are not accepting what is in it. It is already in the Bill that we provide these supports.

If I could speak to Senator Boyhan's point, I know the amendment was ruled out of order. As the Senator said, the special advocate is appointed through the Department of children so any changes to the structure or the statute itself would have to be made through that Department. However, we do not work in a vacuum. We work collectively together. I will commit to engaging with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Foley, on the points the Senator raised to see whether there is more we need to do in terms of the special advocate and resources, and to see how that fits with the work of Sage Advocacy. Over the last 18 months in particular, it has enhanced its expertise, staff and outreach when it comes to supporting and providing advocacy for victims of sexual abuse and victims of abuse in institutions, schools and other areas. It is about how we would make sure that any advocate's role supports and works in collaboration with what is already there. I am absolutely committed to working with my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in that regard and relaying our discussion to her in terms of the advocate. I acknowledge the work the Minister has done and also the work Sage is doing. I am sure there is more we can do and am happy to support them in that regard.