Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I remember a comment made to me two years ago by a priest when there was an emergency meeting of his order about a child abuse case that had come to light. He was relaying a comment made by another priest of the order to the effect the order would be all right; not that it would look after the children or ensure they would get help, but that the institution and the religious order would be all right and would get through it.

While Senators have stated it was not an order from the top or the Vatican and that bishops did not say children should be treated in that way, the crime is appalling and the cover-up, while not as bad, is equally appalling. Those who did it were protected by those who knew. This went on and on. People turned blind eye after blind eye. The Vatican has played a role in hiding the files and resisting the truth coming out in every way possible.

CORI has no moral authority left now that it has stated it will not renegotiate the deal. We must remember the €1 billion the taxpayer must pay is being diverted from essential funds-----