TDs have repeated their calls for the author of the Farrelly Commission into the Grace foster abuse case to come before an Oireachtas committee to explain her findings, saying the case is "a litmus test" for how vulnerable people are treated in Ireland.
Speaking during the second Dáil statements debate on the Grace case and Farrelly Commission, Government and opposition party TDs said questions remain over what happened and why certain conclusions were drawn.
'Grace' is the pseudonym of a woman, now in her 40s, who has been in the care of the State all her life.
She has profound intellectual disabilities and is non-verbal.
The State investigation into the case has made findings of neglect in her care, dental neglect, financial "mismanagement or abuse", and an absence of oversight and monitoring from officials meant to ensure her safety.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said he is "just appalled by what happened to Grace, and also the failure to delivery the justice and truth she deserves".
He said that "the facts of this case are hard to believe", including the fact Grace was placed at an unregistered home, was not visited by a social worker for six years, and that there were prior abuse concerns at the home.
Mr Carthy said "the case is a litmus test for how we treat vulnerable people in society" and said as the incoming chair of the Oireachtas committee on justice he will seek "a role" in examining the Farrelly Commission findings.
He said in his view this should include why submissions on behalf of Grace by the general solicitor of the high court for wards of court and minors, Marie Claire Butler, were not included in the final report.
Mr Carthy also said that "the Oireachtas must insist [Farrelly commission chair] Marjorie Farrelly explains" her decision, saying: "To silence Grace after all she's been through is nothing short of appalling."
In a separate statement to the Dáil, Independent Ireland TD Ken O Flynn said in his view the Grace case shows that what happened was "not just because they [officials] didn't know but because those in power didn't act".
Mr O Flynn said under Dáil privilege that in his view "instead of accountability [from officials involved in the case] what did we get: obstruction, denial and extreme cowardice".
He said officials have "no right to claim surprise" over the case as "the red flags were there for everyone", saying "we need to stop the culture of cover-up that plagues this State again and again".
His party leader, Michael Collins, repeated the concerns, saying that in his view the "absence of definitive answers leaves many feeling justice not done here".
That view was shared by Aontú TD Paul Lawless, who said he believes Marjorie Farrelly "should come before an Oireachtas committee to answer questions".
Raising questions over why submissions on behalf of Grace by the general solicitor for the high court were not included in the report, Mr Lawless said: "The saddest thing about the case in Grace is she was unable to speak for herself, and yet the testimony from her lawyers was not included in the report."
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the Grace case is "one of the most upsetting things to happen in this country" and that "we will be speaking about it for a long, long time".
Their comments were repeated by a number of Government TDs, including Fianna Fáil's Paul McAuliffe who said that in light of the Farrelly Commission findings he believes there needs to be an examination of whether commissions of investigation are "appropriate and the way forward".
He said it is "deeply worrying" the general solicitor of the high court's submissions on behalf of Grace were not included in the report, and that the findings should be discussed at the Oireachtas disability committee when it is established.
Read more:
'Grace' case report unable to establish physical or sexual abuse
'Grace' case whistleblower says report was a 'waste of time'
Fine Gael TD Kiera Keogh said the case is "not just a failure, it is a failure of humanity", while Independent TD Barry Heneghan said "what happened was wrong, but the real question is what are we going to do to make sure it is not going to happen again".
Responding to the remarks, Minister for Children Norma Foley said the Farrelly Commission is an independent statutory body and "by design and by law" is independent of Government, the minister of the day and of the Dáil and Seanad.
Ms Foley repeated her comments last week that the commission has written to her department to say it believes it "fully discharged its responsibilities".
She said the Grace case "rightly caused concern when it emerged" and that "Grace and all other children must be at the forefront of our minds".
