Written answers

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Child Abuse

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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890. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to set up a public enquiry into an organisation (details supplied) in view of the publication of a report to establish the facts formally, including an examination of the actions of staff and volunteers and to make recommendations for change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8129/20]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The initiation of any independent inquiry is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.

As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have previously taken a number of actions in response to allegations of poor safeguarding policies and practice in Scouting Ireland. These included the suspension of funding pending the appointment of a new Board, the appointment of Ms Jillian Van Turnhout to conduct a review of governance, which was completed in June 2018, and the requirement for regular updates on governance reforms by Scouting Ireland to my Department.

In addition, earlier this year, I appointed Ms Brigid McManus to conduct a follow-up review of governance in Scouting Ireland. This was published on 8th May and confirmed that all of Ms Van Turnhout’s recommendations had been satisfactorily implemented, while outlining a small number of matters for follow up.

I welcome the publication by Mr. Elliott of his learning review into historical sexual abuse in scouting. My thoughts are with the adults who suffered so gravely as children through their involvement with scouting and who have carried this burden with them into their adult lives.

I met with Mr Elliott, following receipt of his review, and was pleased to hear that, notwithstanding the seriousness of the findings, he was very positive about the current governance arrangements in Scouting Ireland, with a Board that is strong and well-functioning, and with robust safeguarding in place. Tusla has also written to the Department to indicate its satisfaction with current safeguarding practice in Scouting Ireland, particularly as it relates to the agreed Scouting Ireland / Tusla Action Plan.

The Government had previously undertaken to give careful consideration to the question of an appropriate statutory investigation following the RTÉ Investigates programme “Scouts Dishonour”. It was appropriate for Government to await the reports from Ms Brigid McManus and Mr Ian Elliott to inform this consideration. In this regard, it is noted that Mr Elliott’s report suggests that a statutory inquiry may face the same limitations as his Learning Review. Mr Elliott has also emphasised the cooperation of Scouting Ireland in relation to his review. As such, a key factor is whether a statutory or public inquiry would uncover new information. This is something which will need to be taken into account in contemplating the question of an inquiry.

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