Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

When similar allegations and cases emerged in the church, there was never any question of the church conducting its own internal investigations. When I initiated an inquiry in the diocese of Ferns on the basis of allegations that had been made, I did not seek anybody's permission. It was not contemplated that the diocese would investigate itself. The same happened in the cases of the diocese of Cloyne and the diocese of Dublin and in other organisations. The Government of the day initiated independent statutory inquiries into abuse in the sport of swimming and institutions such as industrial schools. I would have been involved in some of those decisions. Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, a well respected expert in child law and a former special rapporteur for children, has made it clear that no organisation against which allegations have been made involving former members of that organisation should investigate itself. That is a very basic principle. To put it mildly, a mistake has been made in this instance. I am saying this with the best of intentions. I will not engage in anything of a partisan political nature. I simply believe Scouting Ireland cannot be allowed to investigate itself. In saying that I am not casting any aspersion on the current leadership of the organisation. I respect the efforts people in the current leadership are making.

I also respect that thousands of people enjoy scouting and it is important that we protect them. It is imperative for the victims and survivors that an inquiry be statutory, independent, transparent and public and that it should not be conducted by the organisation itself.

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