Derry Sinn Fein MLA Maeve McLaughlin bas become involved in a row with Health Minister Edwin Poots only days after becoming the new chairperson of the Stormont Health Committee.
Ms McLaughlin was hitting at after it emerged a number of recommendations in a 2011 report on vulnerable children by Bernardo’s had not been acted upon.
The Derry Sinn Fein MLA has called for a Stormont inquiry into the recent revelations that children from care homes here had been sexually exploited by over 100 men.
Mr Poots has defended his department and said action had been taken, accusing Ms McLaughlin of being misinformed.
He said: “A whole series of things have happened since 2011. For Maeve McLaughlin to come out and give misinformation is incredible.”
Mr Poots said a safeguarding board had been established a year ago, there had been a leafleting campaign and a helpline had been also been set up to support vulnerable young people.
However, Ms McLaughlin, hit back stating: “We need to have been doing all of this much, much better, much, much earlier.”
“The department could have acted on five of six recommendations in the report.”
She added: “I would make the point that whilst the Barnardo’s report was published in 2011, the research dates back to 2009. I suggest it is too late. We need to have been doing all of this much, much better, much, much earlier.
“There are lessons for the PSNI, lessons for the minister for justice and certainly for the community at large.
“If we have a situation where 18 children involved in this horrific ordeal have left care facilities 427 times, then there is something wrong with our system, there is something wrong with our communities and society if this is not picked up.”
Ms McLaughlin said one of the key actions recommended in the report was the development of a multi-agency action plan.
She added: “We were only hearing at the joint committee this week that this was the start of that process.”
Justice Minister Ford is to initiate a similar review of how the criminal justice system performed.
More than 30 people have been arrested as part of the current major investigation into the sexual exploitation of children and young people.
A number of people have already appeared in court charged with sexual exploitation and other offences.