Oireachtas committees must probe failings of Grace Report – Maurice Quinlivan TD

The new chair of the Oireachtas Disability Matters Committee, Sinn Féin TD Maurice Quinlivan, has said he intends to probe the failings of the Farrelly report into the Grace case.

Deputy Quinlivan made his comments today following an extraordinary intervention by Marie Claire Butler, General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court and who represents the interests of Grace, which alleges that extensive submissions made to the commission by lawyers representing Grace were not included or referred to in any way in its final report.

He added that he would be seeking to work collaboratively with the Oireachtas Justice Committee, chaired by party colleague Matt Carthy, to ensure the voices of victims are listened to.

Teachta Quinlivan said:

“When the findings of the Farrelly report into the Grace case were published earlier this month, they failed to deliver answers and failed to hold anyone to account. The report didn’t deliver for Grace or her mother and, more importantly, Grace’s voice wasn’t heard. Once again, a person with disabilities was failed.

“The intervention by Ms Butler, alleging that extensive submissions made to the commission by lawyers representing Grace were not included or referred to in any way in its final report, is unprecedented and extraordinary. The allegations made need to be addressed.

“There are also serious fears that this is not an isolated case. The reality is that we have over 100 children who are in the care of the state living in unregulated emergency accommodation.

“We need to listen to what the Children’s Residential and Aftercare Voluntary Association (CRAVA) have repeatedly called for, a review of Ireland’s care system. That needs to be done as a matter of urgency.

“As incoming chair of the Oireachtas Disability Matters Committee, we have a responsibility to hold state bodies accountable for their care of people with disabilities.

“It is my intention to work collaboratively with the Justice Committee, chaired by Matt Carthy, so that we ensure that the Farrelly report into Grace is fully scrutinised.

“It is shocking what has happened here. Eight years after the Farrelly report was commissioned, at a cost of over €13m, it has provided no comfort to Grace, her family, or other families of people with disabilities in state care.

“Ms Marjorie Farrelly, the author of this report, needs to bring clarity to the alleged omissions in her findings. These allegations are damning and need to be properly examined and explained.”