Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Healy Eames, Mary White, Coffey, Keaveney, Mullen, Buttimer, Coghlan, Hanafin, McCarthy and Callely all expressed their views on the Ryan report. I welcome the Taoiseach's comments and his invitation and request for the religious orders to meet with him on the serious situation in which they find themselves. A special Cabinet meeting took place last night, and I look forward to the contributions of all Senators today on the issue. I have the full support of this House regarding everything and anything to do with child protection. As Senator O'Donovan said, until we get a referendum, strengthening the law is of the utmost importance.

If there is an urgent matter and a request is made for this House to be recalled, we will not have any difficulty in allowing for that. I assure Senators on this issue. The Senate is leading today, as this is the first House that is debating and discussing the report. I thank everyone who helped to make that possible. The Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, mentioned on "Questions and Answers" something that Senator O'Toole raised today, which is that we consider a national day of atonement. It can be discussed and brought to the Minister's attention when he is here today. Senator O'Toole also mentioned the experience in Canada, where trusts were set up to protect assets. That is a very serious issue and something we will no doubt be discussing during the day, when the Minister is present. We can all agree that the removal of the criminal records of all of these young people must be brought to our attention, and it should happen as a matter of urgency. I look forward to the debate and there will be no difficulty in allowing time for future debate on these reports in the House.

Senators O'Donovan, Coffey, Keaveney and McCarthy all called for an urgent debate on the Common Fisheries Policy, and the enforcement of the rules, which must be fair for all. I have already given a commitment to Senator O'Donovan on this, and we will discuss it before the summer recess. On a point of information, I hope to bring to the House on the next sitting day after the elections the programme for three and four day sittings which will take place in the House from 9 June until the middle of July. There is a great amount of legislation coming before us for our consideration and approval.