Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you very much because we are not just here to commentate on this most shocking national tragedy and trauma. We are here to come forward with ideas. I do not intend to play politics with this or throw the Deputy's words back at her in the way she tends to misrepresent mine. I was calling on people who call themselves Christian to act in accordance with their values. I also said that we will use every lever at our disposal to make sure these people get truth, accountability and justice and nothing is off the table. I do not think I can be any clearer to survivors. The only thing is that I am reassured that survivors understand what I am saying even if the Deputy is choosing not to.

We are going to get this right. We are going to once and for all, as a state, prove that we can help to heal and not just brush things under the carpet. How many reports have we had in this country that show us this horrific trauma? Every now and again, everybody gets offended and upset and says things will change, but they have not. We still have not, as a country, dealt with the scale of the abuse that happened and the mistrust. People who had authority and responsibility, and who were trusted with our children, failed to live up to that.

We will get this right. We will work with the Deputy. Any legislative proposals from her are welcome and we will hear them. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is going about this the right way by engaging with survivors in terms of the next steps. Nobody will get off the hook. The mother and baby process is still ongoing.

See this speech in context