Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin also supports the argument for the lifting of the guillotine in regard to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill. It is hugely important legislation that will have serious consequences for many people today and perhaps for many of us in the future. It is imperative that we give it full opportunity for proper debate in the House. 5 o'clock

There is also a second matter, namely, we cannot agree to the proposition without an immediate indication that the Government will proceed to accommodate address of the Ryan child abuse commission report, which we urged last week would at least commence this week. If one looks at the House's schedule of business for this week, one will see that none of the legislative business scheduled for Thursday could be described as urgent, especially when compared to the importance of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. As I understand it, the Chief Whip indicated at one point last week that the Government was prepared at least to start to address the report this week. That debate could be continued on 9 June, after the election recess. I urge the Taoiseach, the Chief Whip and the Government parties to reconsider this week's schedule and allow a proper debate to commence tomorrow or on Thursday. The process of addressing the horrors that were revealed in Mr. Justice Ryan's report should be aired in this House, which needs to play a part in influencing the thinking and decision-making of the hierarchy of the religious institutions. All the institutions of the State have a collective shared responsibility to the victims of these terrible crimes.

See this speech in context