Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Minister for having the commitment, determination and resolution to pursue this much sought-after and required objective, something which was heralded and flagged many years ago, and I congratulate all those members of the all-party committee who participated for recognising the need.

I do not accept the notion that all abuse of children took place amongst poor and deprived families. There have been many poor families in this country who strived valiantly to rear and protect their children and they did so with distinction and honour. This time should not be allowed to pass without recognising that in many cases where there was willful abuse and neglect of children, it did not always happen in the poorer families. It is wrong and unfair to select in that fashion and to identify that all of this reprehensible behaviour took place amongst poorer families and by poorer families.

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