Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)

Can I put it to the Minister of State that the culture of secrecy and cover-up is alive and well in his Department? Can I put it to him that it is the type of culture that led to the tragedies depicted in the report published by the commission yesterday? Can I put to him that his response to this issue is an entirely institutional response and not a common sense human response on how matters should be dealt with? This tragic case resulted in the lives of two children being taken. The report that was published on it has disclosed serious systemic problems within our child care services of a nature that we have seen in other reports.

In the report published yesterday, the Department of Education and Science was criticised for giving undue deference to the church and church bodies, and not giving priority to the welfare of children. The congregations were criticised for giving priority to avoiding scandal and publicity as a consequence of the perpetration of abuse on children, rather than giving priority to the safety of children. It seems that the priority of the Minister of State and the Government is to protect reputations of State agencies and State employees, and that is the reason given for not publishing this report and its recommendations in full.

The priority that needs to be given is a priority to the welfare of children. Will the Minister of State accept that he is not giving that priority? There is no possibility of transparency or accountability in circumstances in which seven specific recommendations are blacked out of this report, which is the first time in the history of the State that this has happened. An inquiry has been conducted and recommendations made to improve services or change laws - I do not know what is in them - have been censored and concealed from the public and from Members of this House. The Minister of State's alternative suggestion of briefing a committee of the House is grossly inadequate.

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