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

I agree with Deputy McDonald and join her in expressing our sympathies and our thanks for the work Derek did. As for the redress scheme, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, wrote to the churches seeking a contribution to the redress scheme. My understanding is that legislation is still going through the Houses, or perhaps it has gone through already. I note the Deputy's concerns about some aspects of the legislation.

The point about the Adoption Authority is a fair one. I read about that during the week. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and he is concerned about it, so we are seeking to see if we can expedite and accelerate a solution because that is a bit long for people to have to wait. I think the authority underestimated the level of interest and the number of applications. It is good that so many people are applying and using the facility provided by the legislation.

On the inquiry, which was raised by Deputy Bacik, the Minister for Education has met with the victims concerned. I think all of us were appalled again by what we saw on "The Late Late Show" last Friday night. What the two brothers featured revealed was shocking. I will come back to the Deputy. I think the Minister spoke to Opposition spokespeople and is assessing the best course of action. We will consult with Government colleagues as to the most effective way forward to get to the truth of this. That is important.

As for what Deputy Paul Murphy raised, I did not realise Archbishop Martin had made those comments. In my view, hospitals are no place for protests, no matter what the issue is. They should be safe spaces. People generally visit hospitals under stress and strain for a variety of reasons. The last thing they need to see is someone protesting, any agitation or anything to do with that. It just runs counter to what hospitals should be all about.

Deputy Tóibín made a fair point. I do not think there has been such a quantification. I was at the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards ceremony last week and there was a Fr. O'Riordan from Cork there. He spent most of his life in South Africa and did time in jail there because he lived among the black townships in the apartheid era and was imprisoned for that. So many members of churches throughout the world have led with great bravery. Unfortunately, there are those who have been involved in terrible abuse also, but there has not been quantification of the positive contributions. Most recently, I attended a new homeless facility in Cork, Edel House. An order of sisters established that many years ago and provided shelter to women who were homeless or being abused or for whatever other reason. That thrust has been maintained in the modernisation of that centre now and its mission to provide safe shelter to women in various vulnerable situations. Deputy Tóibín's point is a fair one.

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