Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Since November we have waited for the publication of Dr. Geoffrey Shannon's report on his investigation of abuse into St. John Ambulance. While it is important to state that I and my party, Fianna Fáil, as well the Minister, believe the report must be published, it is more important to put on the record why Mick Finnegan, the tireless campaigner, believes this publication to be in the public interest. I welcome Mick to the Gallery tonight. He is here and listening to what I am saying. Without his bravery and tenacity in seeking truth and justice, we would not be here debating this issue.

The following is based on what Mick has said to me. He says that in the past few years a man synonymous with children's rights, advocacy and protection has painstakingly listened to many voices, including his own. He says it was thanks to that care shown and the understanding of Dr. Geoffrey Shannon that he feels strong enough to speak out to us, his representatives. He says the report into the darkest times in St. John Ambulance was commissioned by that organisation to shine a light on the truth of events. He says he knows the truth of those events: that he lives the truth every day. He says that he and thousands of others, victims of sexual abuse, cannot choose the time of the day or night to think and dwell upon what was stolen, irreplaceable, childhood and innocence. He says he never knew truth could be physically heavy, not until he and many more silent victims were once again denied a simple act of transparency to allow the truth to come out. He says he earnestly hopes that none of us ever has to carry this weight. He says he knows this House is well aware of the actual refusal, despite the words of St. John Ambulance, to release Dr. Shannon's report. He thanks so many of us who courageously spoke out to call for the release of the report. In particular, he wants to thank the President, Michael D. Higgins, for his heartfelt intervention and to quote him from a different poem in an early context:

The Prophets are weeping,

For the words that have been stolen,

From texts that once offered,

To reveal in ancient times,

A shared space,

Of love and care,

Above all for the stranger.

Mick says that today he and others feel like a stranger in their own land. The continual refusal to publish the truth of the organisation acts as a further abuse, not a historical one, but is seared into their everyday lives. He says that once again, they feel as children in the dominion of those who hold power over them and their story. He says that this House can help to remove that hold over others.

He goes on to say it can insist that those great voluntary organisations, which do so much for our youth and our culture and in a major way define our country as one of the finest places to live, cease all connections with this organisation until the unaltered report is published and our citizens can see and learn from a truth that has blighted so many lives. Those are Mick's own words, which are very passionate. I am delighted to read them out tonight.

This is not the end, however. Survivors need this report to be published - full stop. There are no reasons for St. John Ambulance to do otherwise. Have we not learned that openness and truthfulness are key when addressing such issues of abuse? In addition to President Higgins, a number of parties have called for this report to be published. I put on record Fianna Fáil's call for this report to be published. As I have said many times in the Chamber regarding so many horrors in our past, survivors must be listened to. They are at the centre of this and deserve to have the report published. The Minister has written to the organisation asking that this be done. I ask him again to do all he can in his power to make sure this report is published.

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