Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I am sure the Tánaiste will agree the Cloyne report represents another chapter in the sordid story of the violation of children and sheltering of perpetrators of abuse by the Catholic Church. It needs to be recognised in this House that, to date, the State has failed children. It has failed in its duty to protect children from abuse, vindicate the rights of abuse victims and subject institutions, be they public, private, religious or secular, to rigorous and legally binding child-protection standards.

I welcome the Government's commitment to introducing the Children First Bill and the national vetting bureau Bill. I welcome the Government's commitment to legislating to right the wrongs of the past but, as we rise for the summer, let us not forget the urgency of the legislation. I ask the Tánaiste to reassure the House that these matters will be addressed with the utmost urgency and that the legislation will be before us at the earliest opportunity.

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