There is concern among social care professionals that children in the Irish system are being sexually exploited.

Fred McBride, the new CEO of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has said to stop families in the Irish care system taking risks would be to take away their dignity.

Social workers may be unable to meet the recommendations made in various child abuse inquiry reports because of the high number of children assigned to them, claim academics in University College Cork.

Social campaigner Sister Stan Kennedy has said that a "seismic shift" in attitudes to the needs of children is necessary if equality and social justice are to be achieved in Ireland.