Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I wish to share my time with Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin. I shall take four minutes and perhaps the Ceann Comhairle might let me know when one minute remains. I very much support the comments made by my colleague, Deputy Hayes. I will address my comments as quickly as I can in order to facilitate my colleague in Sinn Féin.

This motion gives me the opportunity to discuss another State agency created to respond to the outcry over child abuse in State institutions, namely, the Residential Institutions Redress Board. As Deputy Hayes said, the deal signed by the then Minister for Education, Deputy Michael Woods, is unacceptable in terms of what we now know. In view of time constraints I do not wish to repeat what he said. It is worthy of my support.

I will say the following in support of this motion, which my party will support. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse is a worthy effort by the State to provide explanations and accountability in respect of abuses which happened under its authority. The involvement by the Catholic Church in these abuses is a legacy of the particular dynamics of church-State relations during most of the 20th century. However, although efforts have been made to overcome this legacy, there is still, sadly, plenty of evidence in modern Ireland to show that this complicated relationship fails to put victims of abuse first. For example, we have had the recent revelations in the diocese of Cloyne where the bishop clearly failed to report cases of child abuse. We have also seen the case of Louise O'Keeffe, where the State claimed it was not responsible for the abuses she suffered. These are signs that even ten years after the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse was set up by the State, the State still has a lot of soul searching to do when it comes to accepting responsibility for the abuses caused by the church-State relationship.

It is reasonable to grant time with regard to this matter although I am in line with Deputy Hayes that there should be some flexibility. Perhaps this will spur those concerned to act. I do not get any sense that the modern church has learned from mistakes of the past. I would like the Minister to indicate in his response what course of action, if any, he and the Minister of State with responsibility for children and young people, Deputy Andrews, propose to take with regard to the non-compliance with State law by members of certain dioceses.

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