Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has said public confidence in the system may have been undermined by recent revelations involving Sergeant Maurice McCabe but that it was not reflective of the standards held by the agency.
Speaking at an Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs, Chief Executive Fred McBride reiterated an apology to people who may have been affected by the mistakes of Tusla.
Mr McBride confirmed Tusla had yesterday received formal notification from the Charleton Tribunal of Inquiry into allegations that senior members of An Garda Síochána sought to discredit Sgt McCabe.
The Tribunal will investigate whether there may have been inappropriate contacts between An Garda Síochána and Tusla in relation to whistleblowers Sgt McCabe and Garda Keith Harrison, and possibly other members of the force.
Tusla sent a file containing false allegations of sexual abuse against Sgt McCabe to gardaí in 2013.
It also opened files on Sgt McCabe's children containing the false allegations.
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The agency has since written to the Department of Children acknowledging that an error occurred and that an internal case review had been ordered.
In his opening statement, Mr McBride said he had no knowledge or evidence that Tusla staff acted with malice or intent, adding that he did not receive evidence or information in that regard.
Otherwise, he said he would have intervened immediately.
He did, however, say mistakes were made and that he looked forward to co-operating with the Tribunal of Inquiry.
