Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has re-appointed Pat Rabbitte for a second term as the chairman of Tusla, the Irish state’s child and family agency.
Rabbitte was initially appointed as chairman of the Tusla board on the 31st of December 2018, for a term of 5 years. This term just expired after Christmas, on the 31st of December 2023. Now Rabbitte has been appointed once again for a second term, which will last two years.
Under the Child and Family Agency Act of 2013, board members may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms, so he will not serve again when this term expires.
O’Gorman said that this was done to ensure “continuity of key personnel in Tusla’s governance structure.”
“I would sincerely like to thank Pat for his service to date, and for his willingness to continue to serve as Board Chairperson,” said the Green Party Minister as he announced the policy.
“Pat has helped steer Tusla through significant recent turbulent events like the COVID-19 pandemic and welcoming children from Ukraine who need the protection of this State. I want to wish him the best for his second term and I look forward to working with him over the next two years.”
This second term will conclude on the 30th of December 2025, and under law members of the Tusla board cannot serve for more than 2 consecutive terms.
Rabbitte – the former leader of the Labour Party – was a politician for 30 years, serving as a Minister and Minister of State during various coalition governments.
However, he left politics in 2016, choosing not to contest the general election that year, shortly before the Labour party proceeded to plummet electorally from 33 Dáil seats to just 7.
How many children are missing on Pat’s watch? How many have been trafficked, exploited and abused by organised gangs?
Its a grotesque perversion that we have a childless minister for children
I wonder will pat tell us how many of those children went to the sex trade, organ harvesting, slave workers etc…. or will he be focused on water meters for all kids. The kakistocracy are getting desperate and there is nothing more dangerous than a cornered rat.
There complete and utter arrogance should be considered a grave insult to the people they claim to represent
Pat Rabbitte gave up politics because, cos he hung the country out to dry .. and couldn’t hide it 2 faced liar .. perfect credentials he has for a civil servant position..
I would love to hear from Roderic O’Gorman as to how he justifies in my view, the appointment of Pat Rabbitte several months on given what’s clearly a totally broken agency. I would love to here Pat justify his contribution to date also.