Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2023-02-15
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Peadar Tóibín (AON), Meath West

Last year, I raised the case of Ms R who had false information recorded on her Tusla file, including that she was an alcoholic. Tusla has admitted this was not true, Ms R got her son back and there has been a public apology. She is now taking a case against the State but she was shocked that the legal defence of the State Claims Agency is in contradiction with the apology issued by Tusla. She contacted the CEO of Tusla who agreed with her. Tusla contacted the State Claims Agency and told the agency that Tusla was not happy with the defence. However, the State Claims Agency is persisting with the original line of defence. This raises serious questions. How can the Government, Cabinet and State agencies hold their hands up and say, "We did wrong", yet this is ignored by State Claims Agency? This is the Government's policy of aggressive litigation in real time. I am not asking the Taoiseach to address the specific case, but will the Government stop the policy of aggressive litigation and align the State Claims Agency with what is right and just?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2023-02-15/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:00:53+00:00
Sitting date: 2023-02-15