Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, for bringing this Bill before the House and enabling it to debate follow-up legislation to the all-party motion which was agreed several weeks ago.

The report of the Ryan commission made shocking reading. The systematic long-term abuse of children in institutions over a long period is a stain on the history and reputation of our country. No amount of money or of saying "sorry" can undo the damage done. However, there are things which need to be done and can be done. Many of these were agreed in the all-party motion.

I thank the Members who contributed to the debate and who, on all sides, reflect our horror at what happened and a genuine resolve to deal with it fairly and in a way that recognises the suffering which took place and aims to ensure it will never happen again.

Many of us who have been Members of the Oireachtas know that in the immediate aftermath of the publication of a report - and the Ryan report is one of the most shocking I have ever seen - there is a genuine intent on the part of the House and the Government to do something about it. With the passage of time the matter slips off the order of priorities, other crises appear and the urgency gradually ebbs away. That is why the Labour Party brought forward this motion. The resolve of the House to deal appropriately with the recommendations of the Ryan commission should not ebb away. This legislation is before the House so that we can move the matter on. It must not be left as a motion which is passed by the House but which loses its drive and urgency with the passage of time.

Many things need to be done in dealing with the issue. The Minister and speakers on both sides of the House have acknowledged that the contents of the Labour Party Bill are substantially in line with the content of the agreed all-party motion. I am surprised, therefore, that the Government has not agreed to accept the Bill. A number of options were open to the Government. It could have broadly accepted the Bill and dealt with outstanding details on Committee Stage. It could have introduced an amendment to the Second Stage motion to defer the vote on Second Stage and allow the Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, to bring in the proposals he has promised and which I believe he will bring forward. I am surprised the Government has decided to oppose the Bill on Second Stage.

I was particularly disappointed by the contribution of the Minister for Education and Science last night. While accepting that the Labour Party Bill is in line with the all-party motion the Minister, effectively, implied that the Labour Party was partisan or over-political in advancing the Bill at the time. That is not the case.

This morning, I asked the Taoiseach to reconsider the Government's position and to have agreed the Bill by the time we met this evening. The Taoiseach replied that he was not prepared to do that. As is clear from Deputy Barry Andrews' contribution, that is not the disposition of the Government.

During the course of the afternoon, the Labour Party was contacted by representatives of survivors of child abuse. Recognising that the Government was not prepared to accept the Bill, they asked us not to make a political issue of this matter and not to divide the House politically, having regard to the agreed all-party motion. There is a wish among survivors of child abuse that there should not be political division on this and that the all-party approach should be maintained.

At this last minute, I appeal to the Government not to oppose the Bill when the Acting Chair calls for a vote. I appeal to Government Members to agree Second Stage of the Bill and allow it to go to Committee where it can be debated and discussed. If they decide to oppose the Bill, in recognition of the request from survivors of child abuse I will not call a division. I will not ask Members to vote on the issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Barry Andrews, is a constituency colleague of mine for whom I have enormous respect. I hope and believe he will introduce the proposals to which he has committed himself. If they are not introduced or if they do not reflect what the Labour Party is seeking to achieve in this Bill, we will bring this proposal before this House again if the Government decides not to accept it this evening.

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