Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not have much to add. Whether the period is 75 years, 100 years or 200 years, the cruelty inflicted on very young and innocent children or young adults can never be forgotten. In reading the submissions from the different organisations, religious orders and individuals, it is clear that they have concerns which must be listened to. We must respect those concerns; this involves some people who participated in the cruelty and others who did not, and they have very real concerns. I am not sure whether keeping records will make any difference as nobody will forget what has happened in this country. We cannot be allowed to forget it and it lives in everybody's memory. It is a generational issue and it will not go away.

The people in question want assurances with respect to confidentiality about what will be kept on file, whether it is for 75 years or longer. We need to take into account what has been said by these organisations and particularly by individuals. It is their lives that have been destroyed. There were good and bad ways. There were many decent religious orders with good priests, nuns and lay people but, unfortunately, a small group of individuals has destroyed their reputation. Unfortunately for the people who have been left scarred, although they may now be older, they and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always remember the scars. It is not something on which we can toss a coin and the process must be understood properly. The Department and the Minister must take into consideration what is said by those who contributed submissions to the committee.