Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

We have to recognise that the long delay in these Garda inquiries is only likely to lead us to one place - Michael Shine will have passed on. There will be no opportunity for his victims to face their abuser and to give account of the terrible vista he visited on their young lives. It is understandable that among the voices of the abused, there are those who believe that indeed is a subtext, an agenda, that is being allowed to unfold. It is a very serious matter and it has to be taken seriously. These are very hurt people.

As the Minister of State rightly said, we are all agreed that this inquiry must happen but if everything is predicated on when the Garda inquiry will conclude, surely there must be cross-departmental action here and surely the Minister for Justice and Equality must be encouraged to speak to the relevant authorities within the Garda. What prospect is there, after all these years, of new and further information presenting that would significantly alter all that we already know? We need to have this opportunity. These people are deserving of closure.

I appeal to the Minister of State not to just note this and walk away but to speak to the Minister who already is totally conversant with the whole situation and who sponsored a motion in the House only three years ago which I happily spoke in support of and voted for absolutely. I appeal for a cross-party approach. This is not something for Government and Opposition to be adversarial about. We are of one mind but we need to proceed with one clear intent and that it to bring closure at the earliest opportunity.

My final appeal - the Minister of State did not refer to it in her reply as it was not part of what had been constructed for delivery here by the Minister - concerns the situation in regard to Dignity for Patients. I can personally assure the Minister of State that the service it gives is critical to the well-being of those very hurt people today in 2012 as at any point in time in the past. If we are to allow that funding stream to virtually dry up, as is the situation in this current year's provision, we are compounding a terrible pain and hurt and we cannot be a party to that. I urge the Minister of State to immediately intervene to ensure there is adequate support in order to allow the work of Dignity for Patients to continue until that closure we are all agreed must happen is achieved.

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