Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I do not consider that an appropriate response to what is happening at present. It is important to realise that there have been quite a number of investigations. There has been the Cloyne report, the Murphy report and other reports. There has been a series of four reports. There have been the 1,000 victims who had their cases heard. It is important for me to point out to the House that, due to the number of clerics against whom complaints and allegations were made, in certain instances, for practical purposes, it has been necessary to investigate a representative sample of cases. In Dublin, for example, a representative sample of 46 priests were investigated out of a total of 102 falling within the commission's remit. Other allegations may have fallen outside the time period. While the investigations conducted to date have shed light on the abuse perpetrated on many victims, for practical purposes they cannot relate to the individual suffering of all those who were abused, even in those dioceses already examined. That is a point that Deputy McConalogue must take on board and understand. I think the public understands that.

We must look at other methods as well. While I am not ruling out that in some circumstances a commission of investigation may be necessary when the cross-referencing is done and when the HSE report comes out, it is important, as I stated, that, for example, the church and indeed the safe-guarding board could examine some of the material gathered which may address some of the points Deputy McConalogue raises. I intend to have further discussions. I have invited Mr. Ian Elliott and Mr. Gordon Jeyes to discuss with me these points to see how we might take further action to ensure victims' needs are further addressed. The church could also examine what it might do to meet the needs Deputy McConalogue outlined.

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