Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I recall very well standing here in my own humble way trying to reflect the anger and the deep sense of violation of the Irish people regarding what had happened. I make no apology for standing over the comments I made in the Dáil. This was a statutory inquiry into a specific set of allegations in the diocese of Cloyne. There should have been nothing less than full and comprehensive co-operation on the part of the church, as the organisation that was the sole subject of the inquiry. The level of church co-operation with the Murphy commission from the Vatican and locally appointed leadership was not acceptable. There is no doubt that the absence of full co-operation undermined the opportunity for the inquiry to get to the heart of the allegations. As I said in my reply to Deputy Adams, I respect the words used in Cardinal Brady's response and the profound abhorrence of the Holy See. I expect the church authorities and everybody else to work with the Government as it does its work in the interests of putting in place legal protection for all the children of this island. I hope that what has happened cannot happen again. Standards are being set out and work is being done by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I hope that as a result, the Irish people will have an opportunity to vote in a referendum on children's rights that goes further in setting out the standards and principles we espouse in respect of all our children.

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