Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Adams may not have said that but I believe he knows it to be a fact. Everything he has ever done backs up my points on all of those issues and on all of the vile, appalling crimes that have been committed by members of his party and organisation over the years. That is an absolute fact.

What we now want to know, what the Government must find out, and what the Department of Justice and Equality must be informed about is whether perpetrators were driven south by the IRA to the counties where Deputies Fitzpatrick, Nash, Kirk and I reside. That is our responsibility here. Will those concerned be held to account? Do we know who they are? Who are they living beside? We need to know, ultimately to protect young children.

There is a point that Deputy Gerry Adams made with which I agree. One's political party is no umbrella where sexual abuse is concerned. There are sexual abusers who have been members of political parties, with no exception, and sexual abusers who have been members of none. There have been sexual abusers in our clergy and schools and, unfortunately, in many homes. Sex abuse is very prevalent. Where we know where it is occurring, it must be driven out. This Parliament must use its authority to identify perpetrators and drive them from their communities to protect young people where they now live. It is most important that rigorous attention be paid to this matter by the Government and Parliament. I have no doubt that will happen.

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