Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

In the short time left I thank Deputies for the high level of interest shown in this debate and for their constructive contributions. In particular, I record my thanks to the many Deputies who wished me well in the task to be performed by my Department, the Health Service Executive and other statutory agencies in the implementation of the report.

The Government intends to implement all of the recommendations of the Ferns Report. I was delighted to hear this commands universal support and encouragement from within this House. Naturally, questions were asked about certain matters. I am very short on time but I wish to make the point that the key recommendation in the Ferns Inquiry is the establishment of the inter-agency approach at diocesan level. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has often discussed and elucidated the culture of confidentiality and secrecy to which some aspects of Canon Law have led. It is clear that the establishment of the inter-agency group at diocesan level will ensure a culture of openness, the assessment of information and co-operation with the civil authority will take place once that machinery is put in place. That is why I attach enormous importance to that recommendation.

Deputies were naturally concerned that we do not have universal vetting in terms of negative criminal clearance of all persons who have unsupervised access to children. The position is that we only started having vetting in 2001. We have made considerable progress since then in extending it to the entire health sector. I am pleased to say that I secured the necessary staff last year to extend the service. Premises have been identified in Thurles and the office is due to open next week. I understand the service will be rolled out on a phased basis to all the other sectors. My colleague, the Minister for Education and Science, outlined her plans in regard to the education sector. The voluntary sector is also very important in this context. I thank Mr. Paul Gilligan, the chief executive officer of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children who is working on the implementation group on the vetting proposals.

Naturally the debate was considerably wider than the Ferns Report, which is welcome. It would not have been open to me as Minister of State to go into some of those wider questions, as my focus must necessarily be on the recommendations in the report, but given the unanimous support the recommendations commanded it is no surprise that Deputies availed of the opportunity to canvass wider questions about the relationship between the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church and the State.

Before going into that question I wish to deal with a matter raised by Deputy Mulcahy that was not specifically in regard to the Ferns Report but related to the commission of inquiry announced for the Dublin archdiocese. The difficulty is that some line must be drawn in regard to inquiries. We have all had a particular experience in this House in regard to inquiries into planning matters and how the setting of certain terms of reference can lead to an inquiry that appears to go in many directions. Both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I are anxious to ensure the focus of this inquiry is clearcut.

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