Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to begin by thanking the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, for bringing this motion before the House. I call on the Minister to thank his immediate predecessor, the former Tánaiste, Deputy Fitzgerald, who agreed to do this.

As others have said, there are numerous demands for particular forms of inquiry, including commissions of inquiry and tribunals. It is difficult to say "No" but I believe the compelling case made by the victims in this case had to be responded to. I attended the meeting in November 2016. I asked the then Tánaiste to meet the victims and hear what they had to say. I spoke to the Tánaiste's advisor immediately afterwards. She said it was the most emotionally draining meeting she had ever attended. As Deputies can imagine, officials from the Department of Justice and Equality hear many emotionally draining stories. The bravery and persistence of the victims of Bill Kenneally need to be recognised in this House. It takes a great deal for a person to continue to keep telling his hurtful and painful story. When we meet the victims together, it is like they have gone through something that is unique and that forms a bond between them. They are seekers of the truth and they want to know how was allowed to happen.

I have read about and debated many of the cases of sexual assault and abuse involving various institutions in recent years. However, I can honestly say that the details of the abuse perpetrated – I am referring to the convictions achieved and not any allegations made – by Bill Kenneally were among the most shocking and abominable that I have had recounted to me. What is of concern to the victims now - the reason they have clamoured so earnestly, persistently and strongly for this particular inquiry - is the degree of licence that was afforded to their abuser. That is what enabled him to continue abusing children over a protracted period. Who else was involved? Who else knew? What cries for help were recorded and then ignored or not acted upon? These matters are rightfully now before Judge Barry Hickson. It is a milestone to have reached this point.

We have shone light into many dark crevices of Irish life over the past two decades. This investigation will be most worthwhile because it will explore why this was allowed to happen and why, on the face of it, many cries of help were not responded to and many opportunities to reach out to either the health authorities, the police and so on were missed. We need to know why and how that happened and how so many victims were brutalised in this awful way.

Extraordinary work was done by all the victims but I wish to mention Jason Clancy in particular for providing such an important grounding document. It was most helpful in the beginning. It set out the case so well and set out the matters that needed to be looked at in such compelling form. It has brought us to today.

I am delighted that we can now embark upon this process. I know this has not been an easy process to navigate and investigate in parallel with criminal proceedings and investigations. I commend the Minister on his persistence. It could have been an easier option to simply say that we can do nothing until all these matters are fully investigated - and that could take years. As we know, witnesses are no longer available. Some have died in the intervening period between the first meeting with the former Tánaiste and today. That is why it is important to get going on this important work. I thank the Minister for his personal commitment to achieving it.

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