Anne Ferris (Wicklow, Labour)

So it is even more. I certainly believe that this should be shared on a 50-50 basis between church and State. I was surprised by the outcome of the original indemnity deal negotiated in 2002. There is still some mystery as to why the church was limited to providing €128 million in cash and property, especially when it would seem that the Department of Finance had suggested otherwise.

The most important outcome of this Bill is that victims will receive any and all assistance that they need. It is incumbent on me to say, however, that those who were at fault should bear full responsibility for their actions. Certainly, the original indemnity deal could in no way contribute fully to this responsibility.

To this end, I support the Minister, Deputy Quinn's calls for further substantial contributions as a way of making reparations that are sorely needed. The Minster has called for the school infrastructure that the congregations possess to be transferred to the State at no cost. I would endorse this call as a helpful approach as it would allow a further shouldering of the costs while permitting schools to operate under the ethos they choose.

It has been reported that 17 religious orders have an asset base of around €2.6 billion and therefore the feasibility of offering more to the overall fund is not beyond their means at all. The end result of this process must be that victims' needs are adequately met. It is also important that mechanisms are put in place that will prevent something like this from recurring.

For that reason, I also welcome the Government's commitment to place the Children First guidelines on a statutory basis. That measure, along with the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences Against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012, will also help in this regard.

There is something very wrong at the heart of a church, of which I am a member, that would allow this abuse to happen. It is clear from report after report that the violence suffered by children was horrific and was made worse by being covered up for so many years.

There is also something wrong on wider issues concerning many of the church's teachings, its dogma and rhetoric. They appear to be sadly at odds with what the general public feeling. An interesting poll was taken on behalf of the Association of Catholic Priests, which showed that three quarters of the population believe the church's teaching on sexuality has no relevance to them. The poll also demonstrated that a large majority thought priests ought to be allowed to marry, and that women priests should be ordained - God forbid.

The poll also showed strong disagreement with the church's teaching on homosexuality. All of this demonstrates a wide disconnect with the people but I wonder, and worry, whether this is properly recognised.

I commend the survivors who bravely came forward to highlight the abuse they experienced. I would like to mention Christine Buckley in particular. I was a pupil at Goldenbridge and while I was lucky not to have experienced abuse, hearing the awful stories that came out of that institution really brought the issue of abuse home to me. It is very brave of her, and all the others who came forward, to bring light on a dark chapter of our history.

I am glad the Government is taking some of the necessary steps to do something about addressing past wrongs. There is still a way to go, however, and more work is required to ensure that some measure of justice is achieved for all those who have suffered.

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