Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I very much appreciate the Taoiseach's appeal for people to be very careful about what they say in this House because these matters are under investigation by An Garda Síochána. This has not stopped the Fianna Fáil Party leader from naming a private citizen in the Chamber in the past in connection with the most serious of allegations. It did not stop the Taoiseach from asserting that some people suffered mistreatment at the hands of members of Sinn Féin, nor the Fianna Fáil leader from making similar assertions. Victims not only require and have the right to support, but no one should be pressurised or subjected to any campaign of harassment either online or in any other way.

I have also read in the media that allegations made by a County Louth man, Paudie McGahon, are to be rehearsed in a television programme this evening. The agencies to deal with allegations of abuse are An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and social services. From what I have read, Mr. McGahon clearly feels badly let down. The Fianna Fáil leader and Taoiseach made the assertion that some of the abusers were associated with republicanism. If that is the case, they did not act in our name or in the names of the people who suffered for the republican cause over a very long time. Paudie McGahon feels badly let down and nothing I say may change that. This is a matter of very deep regret to me. Mr. McGahon needs support and justice. I am assured, contrary to what the Fianna Fáil stated, that when this case was brought to the attention of local representatives, the victim of the alleged abuse was advised in person and in writing to go to An Garda Síochána.

Last November, the Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, wrote to the Taoiseach and proposed the establishment, through the North-South Ministerial Council, of a clearly defined, all-island process to deal with the issue of providing support mechanisms for all those who were victims of sexual abuse during the conflict. We know that one in four people suffers abuse, mainly by a family member, and that society has been remiss in dealing with these issues. The Maíria Cahill revelation brought a very clear focus on those who had been abused during the conflict and were not properly dealt with by state agencies, statutory bodies and, in some cases, republicans.

The Deputy First Minister's letter set out objectives to support victims of abuse in all communities, ensure greater access to counselling and other supports for victims and facilitate victims and survivors in assessing the justice system and making official complaints. In addition, the letter states that the anonymity and confidentiality of victims and survivors who did not wish to be identified should be acknowledged and protected. The Deputy First Minister also argued for the promotion of existing helplines and, if necessary, dedicated hotlines, North and South, to facilitate victims and survivors who wish to come forward. These are A, B and C steps that could be easily taken. The Taoiseach has not responded to these propositions in the way he should. The Deputy First Minister has written to him on three occasions and first put his proposals in November 2014. It is now March and Martin McGuinness has expressed his concern at the lack of engagement by the Taoiseach on his proposals.

I do not have any objections, and nor should I have, to these matters being rehearsed in this Chamber. A great deal needs to be done in terms of funding rape crisis centres, providing protections and so forth. However, we need to move beyond commentary and establish mechanisms and processes which deal with the unique circumstance of what occurred during the conflict.

If the mechanisms that the Deputy First Minister is putting forward are not sufficient and if we cannot get a North-South focus on this beyond what we have at the moment, the Taoiseach should bring forward some other proposition.

It is very disappointing that this has not been responded to in the way that it should have been. When we had the debate in the House last November I was very critical of the way the Government parties and the Leader of the Opposition dealt with the issues. I concluded by saying: "I suppose I should not judge them on what they say in this particular debate as we will all be judged on what we do to protect children and the rights of women." I believe we stand open to the accusation that we have not dealt with this issue in the way that it should have been dealt with.

I appeal to the Taoiseach once again. The fact that the Deputy First Minister has not got even the courtesy of a response to what was a serious proposition by him is disappointing indeed. This is for all the victims and all the survivors. Obviously, I have a clear focus on those who may have been victims of those who purported to be republicans. However, there are many other folks outside of that group who also need support. That between the two Administrations, North and South, we have not moved on this is a matter of some disappointment.

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