Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom a rá i dtús báire go bhfuil sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go dtuigfeadh gach éinne anseo i dTeach Laighean agus ar fud na tíre go bhfuil sé thar a bheith éasca seasamh ar son cearta, ar son comhionannais agus ar son cearta daonna nuair atá sé éasca. Tá sé i bhfad níos deacra é a dhéanamh nuair atá sé deacair agus nuair a chuireann sé isteach ort féin, ar do ghluaiseacht nó ar do pháirtí. Níl sé ceart ná cóir an milleán a chur ar éinne eile, ar nós na meáin cumarsáide nó na páirtithe polaitíochta eile. Tá sé níos tábhachtaí - i mo thuairim, tá sé ríthábhachtach - ceisteanna móra trioblóideacha a chur ort féin nuair a tharlaíonn eachtraí ar nós an cháis atá os ár gcomhair inniu.

I have a deep respect for many members of the Sinn Féin Party. Many of the stances they have taken have been quite brave. The spokesperson on justice and equality has campaigned for the rights of Travellers, as has Deputy Dessie Ellis, and this has been quite admirable and inspirational. However, it is easy to stand for the rights of people when there are no consequences. It is much more difficult to stand for the rights of people when there are consequences. It is easy to blame everybody else. I found it quite troubling that a man for whom I have deep personal and political respect, Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, in his contribution could not even mention Maíria Cahill's name. He could not bring himself to mention her name.

Rape has been a deeply troubling issue in Ireland for a very long time. It is not just about the republican movement, the Catholic Church or any church, sporting organisations here or the entertainment industry in Britain. It is everywhere and one is far more likely to be abused by a member of one's own family than anybody else. We cannot have a culture of "yes, but", which is the problem with the issue in Ireland. We have had a culture of "yes, but": "Yes, you say you were abused and yes, you say you were raped, but". This is what caused the problem in the church, swimming organisations, other sporting organisations, entertainment organisations and families which have had to deal with this problem. What we are getting on the airwaves from people I genuinely respect is, again, this attitude of "yes, but".

I am not a victim of rape or child abuse, but if I was, the debate in recent weeks and months on this issue would suggest that Ireland is again saying to me, "yes, but". It is saying: "Keep quiet and shut up because there are more important things at stake here."

I fully agree with what Deputy Conway said earlier. What is more important than the dignity of a victim of child rape? Getting a history lesson of the reality in the Six Counties of Northern Ireland insults the intelligence of every Member of this House and insults the intelligence of every Irish person, North and South, because it again goes to the culture of "yes, but". It is not correct that it is a media conspiracy or that the party political system is terrified of Sinn Féin and therefore that is the only reason these issues are being raised. This country has a deeply troubling history on this issue and we want to rebuild a country where we can talk openly about our problem in this area in order that young girls and boys will not have the culture of "yes, but".

I wish to make three final points. I think the first has already been alluded to. Will those who have information come forward with that information and not keep asking others to do it because that has fallen on deaf ears in the past? Will Sinn Féin call off its hounds on social media because what they are doing is despicable? Can Sinn Féin assure everybody in the House that if in the future somebody is raped or sexually assaulted by a Sinn Féin member or supporter, it will defend the victim's rights to the end or will it again say "yes, but"?

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