Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018
25. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions she has had with an organisation (details supplied); if she has received the Elliott Report; and her plans to ensure good governance and probity within the organisation. [19113/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI want to ask the Minister what was the nature of her discussions with Scouting Ireland last week. We in this House demand transparency. I believe the Minister to be transparent in her dealings with all matters under the remit of her Department. For our own part, we have yet to ascertain what is in the details of the Elliott report. I am very anxious to hear from Mr. Ian Elliott as somebody who everybody across the divide would respect in terms of previous work he has done. I want to hear the Minister's perspective on the nature and content of the meeting that took place last week.
When I became aware of governance issues within Scouting Ireland I decided to withhold the drawdown of further funding to the organisation under the youth service grant scheme.
I wrote to the organisation on 13 April advising it of this decision and outlining my concerns. I also sought an urgent meeting to discuss governance issues within the organisation so as to give Scouting Ireland the opportunity to satisfy me that the organisation's governance standards are up to the required level.
I subsequently had a useful meeting with Scouting Ireland on 19 April and I was briefed on the organisation's plan to reform the governance of the organisation and put new structures in place. Scouting Ireland also confirmed its commitment to implement Mr. Ian Elliott's recommendations in relation to safeguarding - his first report - and that it would also carry out a full review of historic cases.
The Garda vetting of the individual referred to in media reports is in progress. The leadership of Scouting Ireland informed me that the organisation was involved in a governance process and reforms in the way it does its work, in particular at board level. These changes will be discussed at a special board meeting of the membership in June and in October.
Scouting Ireland commissioned Mr. Ian Elliott to carry out a review into the organisation's handling of this allegation of the serious sexual assault on an adult volunteer by another adult volunteer. While this alleged assault took place in 2009, as the Deputy will be aware, it was only reported within the organisation in 2016.
Mr. Elliott's report into this case resulted in the engagement by Scouting Ireland of a barrister to conduct a full investigation into this allegation, particularly with regard to the handling of the matter by certain senior volunteers. I have not yet received Mr. Elliott's report on this case but will receive it, together with the report of the barrister's investigation, once completed.
Scouting Ireland is part funded by my Department. It has received funding of €438,168 so far from my Department in 2018 and it is funded up until the end of June. There are a number of steps to be taken before I can be assured that Scouting Ireland has the proper governance arrangements in place which would allow me to consider the restoration of funding.
Do I take it then that the Minister has full confidence in the process that is under way within Scouting Ireland in regard to its governance and historical cases? Furthermore, will the Minister confirm, as per her assertion when myself and Deputy Rabbitte raised this in the House the week before last, that there are no further cases being dealt with in a historical context? My understanding is that the Minister informed this House that she had received calls to her office about the potential for further cases. Is that still the case? Is there only one sample case at play here or are there other complaints?
Is the Minister willing to again acknowledge the vital role thousands of volunteers play throughout the island of Ireland in everyday scouting activities, that they are utterly sacrosanct in terms of maintaining child protection policies and procedures and that there is no blemish whatsoever on ordinary members of the scouts throughout this island and that it is important that we reiterate that in this House?
Let me start with the Deputy's last question because I appreciate where it is coming from. I am committed to and appreciate the work of the thousands of volunteers in Scouting Ireland. There is no question about that. Every action that I have taken in regard to this issue is because of my deep respect for them and my desire to ensure that they can continue to have an organisation that they are proud of and that can work in the best possible manner in terms of that ethos of volunteerism. I deeply appreciate the work that all of them are doing.
In regard to the Deputy's first question about whether I am assured by the processes in which Scouting Ireland is engaged to reform its governance matters, we had a meeting at which we had a lengthy conversation. I had numerous questions which were able to be answered at that time but much work needs to be done and action taken.
In that regard, I would also like to inform the House that I have asked Jillian van Turnhout, as an independent expert, to examine the situation over the coming weeks. In accordance with her terms of reference, she is being asked to provide me with a clear assessment of the adequacy of Scouting Ireland's governance arrangements and to advise me on whether I can be assured about Scouting Ireland's governance and related matters. As that comes in, I have also engaged another expert to work with me to ensure that what changes happen are in the best interests of reforming Scouting Ireland, particularly in regard to its governance.
The Minister will forgive me but I must have missed something in the dispatches. It is news to me that Jillian van Turnhout was appointed by the Minister. I must have missed the press release on that one. As a former Senator, I think we all have confidence in the fact that she has been appointed to that role. Does the Minister envisage that the Elliot report will be published? When will the Minister restore funding? It is vital, notwithstanding the process that is under way, to restore funding and have a direction of travel to restore that funding. It is an entity that represents thousands of volunteers.
I am still unclear in my own mind - that is why I cannot wait to have an interrogation of Scouting Ireland's internal procedures - as to how the funding flows down into individual troops. There seems to be a disparity between what happens at the head of the organisation and at the bottom of the organisation. There seems to be a gap between ordinary members and those within the upper echelons of the organisation. I welcome the appointment of Jillian van Turnhout but merely want to ask the Minister that question.
The Deputy did not miss any press release. I am informing the House this afternoon of that appointment, which, in the development of the terms of reference, only happened in the past couple of days. This is an appropriate place to do so.
It was tacked on.
Sorry?
With all due respect, the Minister tacked it on in the second or third reply to a question.
I have a certain amount of time to answer the Deputy's questions.
It is actually in the answer.
Fair enough.
Okay. That is what I am doing. I am not tacking anything on.
In regard to the Deputy's question on Mr. Elliott's report, as I stated, I have not even seen it yet. I am also expecting the other report. I expect it would be useful to it into the public domain. Usually one has to get some kind of legal view on the publishing of such reports and we will have to go through that process.
In regard to the Deputy's funding question, as he will be aware, I have funded it until the end of June. Scouting Ireland has informed me that it has reserves, and I will leave it at that. I have funded it until the end of June. At the point when I have acceptable assurances on its governance, I will restore its funding.
