Scouting Ireland bosses have been slammed over their recent Oireachtas appearance.

There were 40 substantiated child protection and welfare concerns made against foster carers last year, Tusla, the child and family agency, has said.

Sponsorship of RTÉ’s Big Big Movie by McDonald’s does not breach the rules on children’s programming, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

Handcuffs are only used on young offenders held in the Oberstown child detention facility in extreme circumstances, its director has insisted.

There is no evidence child protection workers acted with "malice of intent" in the Garda whistleblower scandal, the head of the state child agency has said.