Dáil oversight on Tusla needed after Cork HIQA report
Cork East TD Seán Sherlock has said that Oireachtas committee oversight needs be restored after the report from HIQA on failures in the Child Protection Notification System in Cork
Deputy Sherlock said:
“The Committee oversight structures in Leinster House have not yet materialised and are not due to be re-established until after Christmas according to some reports.
“This leaves a serious gap in democratic accountability of State agencies like Tusla when reports like this are released. There are serious questions that need to be answered about child protection in Cork. There must be some mechanism designed to quickly allow the resumption of committee hearings in different areas either remotely or through social distancing.
“The revelations from today’s HIQA report will be upsetting to many families. TUSLA must account for itself not just through the statutory reports but publicly in order to restore confidence in its operations.
“Covid-19 has changed the world but these issues occurred well before the pandemic and lockdown, the conduct of Tusla during which has raised its own questions and concerns. Transparency and confidence must be restored.”