Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to make a brief contribution to what I consider a very significant debate. It is very important to welcome the presence of the Minister of State with responsibility for children and youth affairs, Deputy Barry Andrews, because it reminds us, if reminding were necessary, that this is about children.

Like other colleagues, I record my appreciation of the work done by Judge Yvonne Murphy in this report. The Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin clearly shows that a systemic calculated perversion of power and trust was visited on helpless and innocent children in our archdiocese over a 30-year period. Those responsible must continue to be brought to justice. It is very clear from the coverage we have seen in the past week that the people of Ireland must know this will never happen again.

I speak as a Dubliner, a Catholic, a parent and a grandparent. I try to bring to my politics my own life experiences and in a debate such as this it is relevant to say that. I came from a by-gone Dublin and I remember "them days". Children of my age and generation understood there were places to which one might be sent if one did not do things right. This was one of the stories heard on the street. It always worried me that there was acceptance of that in the Dublin of the day. What comes out of this report, and must be stated, is that all of us hope that such things are not happening now and will never happen again. It is very relevant to say that.

I went to school in Synge Street and to the Christian Brothers in Drimnagh Castle. I would not say all the Christian Brothers I met were nice people, but thank God I have no bad memories of them. At the same time, we are very aware that young people of my generation and beyond had bad experiences. It is very important to recognise that fact.

People come to Deputies for all sorts of reasons and in the current economic climate people come to us on a daily basis with issues of concern. I often said, and reiterate now, that the people who have affected me most in recent years are those who were kind enough to come to me and talk about their experiences of abuse. They sought my help in whatever little way they felt I could offer it. Only this week, I had a long discussion with a man. I will not identify him or say where he was from but we had a long conversation. I do not say this in any virtuous way but because I was a Government Deputy, he wanted to share his experiences with me and tell me how he felt, how angry and upset he was. It is very important that we should continue to listen to those people. I did so this week. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the victims of injustice in this regard for their brave co-operation with the commission in its work. It is important to acknowledge that and commend the work they did.

I do not hesitate to condemn those who did wrong but in my church and community there are those who do good work as priests and it is important to remember them too. I have a story that sums up my attitude to this point. Fifteen years ago I separated from my wife. I do not mind admitting that. At the time, my then 11 year old son was worried about missing his dad and all the other matters that go through a young person's mind. My wife and I discussed the matter and decided that a local priest in the parish would be a good person to talk to my son. I have often told that story and I discussed it with my son quite recently. We would not do today what we did then. To some extent, it is a shame that good priests doing their job in my diocese suddenly find themselves in that situation. There is no question but that we must all be careful about how children are looked after and dealt with.

Like my colleagues, I read parts of the report. I have not read it all and do not know whether I will. Like everybody else, I found it quite upsetting. It is important that we understand there are good people in the system. I hope they all take the view that the perpetrators of the crimes, who were unjust to the children, should be punished. I have no hesitation in saying that.

A number of people, although not members of the clergy, said to me during the week that while there is considerable focus on the bishops and auxiliary bishops at present and that it is fair enough that a debate should take place in this regard, they are not convinced that some of the bishops did not act in bad faith. It is important that we understand that.

Not much attention has been paid to the fact that questions must be answered by those in the medical profession who intervened in cases of child abuse.

I stated how I understood these matters as a small child in Dublin. There is no question but that we all have a different understanding today. For all of us, there has been a learning curve. As legislators, we should take this on board.

The Kennedy report of 1970 dealt with residential institutions such as those in Letterfrack, Daingean and Artane. A constituent of mine told me this week it took quite a while for legislation to be introduced. I tried to find out this morning exactly when it was introduced and I understand it was in the late 1980s. There is no question that these matters need to be dealt with more quickly. I hope the lessons we are all learning this week will be dealt with very quickly.

We should welcome the fact that my church and, I hope, every church in Dublin, although I have not even visited every one in my constituency, is taking great strides to understand the question of child protection and stress its importance. The guidelines are available to people and can be read easily and confidentially. The child protection officer is being identified and it is very important that this be the case.

I have a background in youth work and consequently believe it is very important that there be awareness of child protection policies everywhere young people gather. We have heard many stories recently about young people being upset and abused in various settings, including swimming clubs. Young people must be protected at every opportunity and I hope the work being done in this regard will be broadened, such that where young people gather under adult supervision, they will feel safe and their parents will know they are safe.

I have been listening all week to radio coverage and it is coming across very clearly that people have very clear views on how their children should be looked after. I have heard in this debate and on the radio during the week people asking questions as to whether they should allow their children go to clubs or interact in any way with adults. Questions arise as to what happens in schools. I spend as much time as I can with my small granddaughter and understand the challenges her parents face.

This debate needs to take place. I hope the victims of abuse will understand the issue is being treated as very important in the Dáil. Members from all parties have a responsibility to ensure this is the case and to say to the Ministers under whose remit the report falls, that they must continue to take action to ensure children are safe at all times.

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