Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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421. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will instruct GSOC to carry out a section 106 investigation into the practices, policies and procedures in relation to the Garda national juvenile office and the lack of timely investigation of sexual crimes against children. [16057/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Inspectorate Report entitled "Responding to Child Sexual Abuse" was published in February 2012, including an addendum to take account of the findings of the Cloyne Report. The report made a range of recommendations concerning the investigation of child sexual abuse with a view to addressing past failings and better protecting children in the future. While the inspection was under way An Garda Síochána issued a comprehensive policy on the investigation of sexual crime, crimes against children and child welfare. This had the effect that many of the Inspectorate recommendations had already been incorporated into Garda practice. At the time of the report's publication, I also published detailed material on the steps being taken to address its recommendations and to improve child protection generally.

Since then An Garda Síochána has continued to implement the report's recommendations and to give effect to the new Garda policy in this field. With a view to taking stock of that progress, on 28 August 2013 I issued a request that the Inspectorate carry out a follow-up review of its Report, in accordance with section 117 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. That review is ongoing.

In light of this, I have no plans, at this time, to initiate a parallel review of these matters, including by making a request under section 106 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.