Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)

It is terrible that I have to conclude after such a short time because I have a few more important points to make to the Minister of State, to whom I do not attach any blame. I received one of the most traumatic telephone calls of my life from a person in my constituency last week. The person did not know where he could go or to whom he could turn. A publicity campaign is needed to publicise the number of a telephone line that victims of clerical and institutional abuse can ring. A few months ago, I spotted an individual, whose photograph appeared in newspapers in the last few weeks, in a public place where children were present. I knew at that time that the man in question was a child abuser who had been given a jail sentence. I am not saying the man in question was doing anything wrong, but it sent a shiver down my spine.

Mechanisms must be put in place whereby people who hold positions of authority, be they in business or in charge of child facilities, know who these people are when they are out in the community. This is very important. I regret that I must finish. We must put mechanisms in place so people can report child abuse. We have a difficulty in this country with the concept of informing but a person who reports on harm to children is a true patriot. We must also educate our children.

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