We had a useful discussion on this matter in the Seanad yesterday. The board of St. John Ambulance Ireland commissioned an independent review to be carried out by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon into the handling of complaints of historical sexual abuse of members under 18. This was a step I had urged the organisation to undertake following my own engagement with victims of abuse within the organisation.
My Department is giving urgent consideration to the findings and recommendations of the review report by Dr. Geoffrey Shannon. My officials have been working with Tusla to ensure appropriate supports are in place for survivors of abuse on the publication of the report. Tusla established a helpline that was available over the St. Patrick's weekend and this continues to be available during normal office hours, Monday to Friday. My officials are also engaging with Tusla to ensure all appropriate actions are taken in response to the findings of the review report. The commissioner and board of St. John Ambulance have accepted in full the findings and recommendations of Dr. Shannon’s report.
As noted in the report, the child protection policy of St. John Ambulance was in draft form during the review process. Although completed in November of 2022, the report was not published until March 2023, and in that timeframe child protection policy and procedures dated 2022 have been finalised and published on the St. John Ambulance website. Tusla carried out a review of the child safeguarding statement of St. John Ambulance most recently in March 2022, and the statement was deemed compliant. Child protection concerns relating to current members of the organisation should be referred to Tusla and An Garda Síochána. An assurance was given by St. John Ambulance to my officials that all known child protection concerns have been fully reported to Tusla.
St. John Ambulance has set out a detailed document outlining how it will respond to the significant number of recommendations set out in Dr. Shannon's report. I am determined to see that those recommendations are implemented. Officials in my Department, along with those in Tusla, have already met with members of the board of the St. John Ambulance. They met earlier this week seeking to set up a process whereby we can ensure all those recommendations are fully implemented.