I would like to start by condemning yesterday's terrorist attack in London, during which a soldier was barbarically killed. Our sympathies and thoughts are with the family of the deceased soldier and with the British people at this appalling moment.

I think the Tánaiste will agree that the early years of a child's life are the most fundamental for his or her development. I refer to aspects of social education like the development of self-esteem and self-confidence. A child learns and develops more in the first three years than in the rest of his or her life. It has been reported that a forthcoming edition of RTE's "Prime Time" on standards in crèches will reveal damaging and worrying mistreatment of children. This will cause widespread alarm and concern among people across the country. It will cause significant distress to thousands of parents who send their children to child care facilities. I understand from media reports that in one crèche, a staff member has been dismissed and three others have been suspended. Staff members have been suspended in another crèche that will fall under the spotlight of this programme.

A meeting was held last Thursday night in Malahide at which parents were briefed on the findings of the "Prime Time" investigation. According to a report in today's media, a crèche owner who has viewed the undercover footage taken by RTE has described the actions of staff as "wholly inappropriate, inexcusable and unacceptable". The parents concerned are understandably furious about these developments. I understand that footage which was recorded in a room where younger children are kept shows children being shouted at, bad language being used and bottles being thrown, etc. I believe that such absolutely unacceptable and disgraceful behaviour forms the content of the programme in question. Everyone in the House will be concerned to hear such reports.

Can the Tánaiste indicate whether the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has been made aware of these allegations and revelations? Can he confirm the nature of the HSE and Garda inquiries into these matters? Can he reassure parents across the country whose children are in child care facilities that their children are safe in such facilities? Can he confirm that there is a robust inspectorial regime with the capacity to identify this type of behaviour and mistreatment of children in crèches? Are the resources available to the HSE and the inspectorial authorities adequate to uncover and identify failings of this nature?

I want to join Deputy Martin in condemning the shocking terrorist attack on a soldier in London yesterday. I am conveying on behalf of the Government our deepest sympathy with the British Government and, particularly, with the family, friends and colleagues of the soldier who was attacked.

I agree with Deputy Martin that the early years of a child's life are critical. When parents arrange for the care of their children, particularly their young children, they have a right to expect that they will be properly cared for and will not be subjected to any kind of mistreatment, verbal or otherwise. As we know, it has been reported that a number of crèches in north and south County Dublin are being investigated by the Garda and the HSE following allegations of mistreatment of children, such incidents having been recorded secretly by RTE. These allegations tap into every parent's worst nightmare. Parents who dropped their children off at crèches this morning need to have confidence and trust in the people who look after their children. As a Government, we are deeply concerned about these reports. It is shocking and disappointing that any person whose role is to care for our youngest children could behave in the manner described.

The mistreatment or abuse of children is unacceptable in any setting. All such incidents should and must be reported to the relevant authorities, as has rightly happened in this case. I understand the Garda and the HSE are investigating this matter. Any parent who has concerns regarding practices in a crèche can report them to the HSE for investigation by its child care inspectorate. If such concerns relate to child protection matters, the HSE works with the Garda in line with the Children First guidance. I understand the HSE will be shown the footage in this case later today, at which time it will be in a better position to understand the extent of these problems.

In view of some of the reports, however, the HSE has already been in touch with the Garda and I understand RTE is already liaising with the Garda in this case. An investigation is under way into these allegations. Clearly, what we have to date is what has been reported. The matter has been reported to the HSE, which is conducting an investigation in conjunction with the Garda.

I thank the Tánaiste for his reply, which essentially confirms a very disturbing situation where investigations are under way in terms of mistreatment of children in crèches in this city. It also highlights the issue around the inspection and monitoring of standards in such facilities and the adequacy of such inspections.

I know the Minister was asked some time ago whether the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, should be tasked with ensuring standards are adhered to in private and public crèche facilities. The reply was somewhat equivocal on the point about an expanded role for HIQA. Currently, it inspects under sections 38 and 39 of the Health Act 2004. By any objective perspective, most people would accept HIQA's work has been of extremely high quality in the various areas it has operated to date. Nonetheless, the revelations that are emerging call for a reassessment. The Minister said the Department would continue to review and monitor the regulatory environment for preschool services. This has been a very significant wake up call given the context of the revelations we have heard about and which the Tánaiste has confirmed - or he has at least confirmed the investigations into those incidents. A stronger role for HIQA is called for.

I ask the Tánaiste to confirm that the Minister would be of a disposition to give an enhanced role to HIQA in this arena. Second, will he indicate when the Children First Bill and the child and family agency Bill will be published? These are critical pieces of legislation that have been awaited for some time.

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is giving the highest priority to the reports we have heard and to the investigations which are under way. She is and will be receiving up-to-date reports on the progress of those investigations and she is taking a direct and personal interest in them.

With regard to the inspection of child care facilities, in both 2011 and 2012 over 2,600 child care providers were subject to inspection by the HSE. Basically, what we need here is that parents are assured the Irish child care sector is safe and that practitioners are committed to ensuring the highest standards of care for children. For that reason, the Government has brought in updated Children First guidance on child protection and is currently finalising the legislation to put compliance with Children First on a statutory footing. The Government has also brought in the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act, which puts on a statutory basis the mandatory vetting of persons who are working with children or other vulnerable people. There has been a problem with regard to the processing of applications for vetting, and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has granted sanction for an additional 25 staff to be redeployed from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to the Garda central vetting unit. These personnel are currently undergoing training and will be operational within a short time.

The Government is very conscious of the continuing imperative to deliver improvements in quality in the early years of child care provision. HIQA has, for the first time, been given responsibility for child protection standards. The actual inspection of the child care facilities is a matter for the HSE and for the inspectorate which has that responsibility. The cases which are now in the public domain, and which are the subject of the RTE documentary, are being investigated by the HSE and by the Garda. We are taking the issue very seriously indeed.