Last week, while we were all distracted by the farce at RTÉ, Dr. Mary Canning and Ruth Breslin of UCD published their report, Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland. As the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, outlined to me in response to a parliamentary question, the findings in the report are alarming. I would go so far as to say they are terrifying, deeply disturbing and sickening. Clearly, the procedures against child sexual exploitation introduced by Tusla in recent years have failed miserably. They have failed at a catastrophic level for these children who are being groomed and exploited by gangs of predatory men. Will the Government commit to providing every resource necessary to further the research that is being carried out? Will it stand ready to demand accountability from Tusla or any other agency that has failed these children in the worst possible way?

I thank the Deputy. The findings of the research undertaken in the scoping study on the sexual exploitation of children and young people in Ireland are deeply troubling. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is working closely with the senior management of Tusla on the matter and will prioritise a review of the findings of the scoping study and its recommendations in the immediate period ahead.

The study offers an alarming account of the sexual exploitation of children by potentially organised groups in our society. Therefore, a close examination of the study's findings will be undertaken by Tusla and An Garda Síochána. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth will also work with the Department of Justice to review the findings and the recommendations of the report.