Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach for his acknowledgement that the religious orders have not done the right thing to date. I had hoped for more in terms of a timeline. I ask the Taoiseach to refer our Bill to the Attorney General for advice. Our Bill would facilitate civil proceedings against unincorporated bodies such as, but not confined to, religious orders and would provide for the recovery of any damages awarded from associated trusts of such bodies. It is critical legislation and is needed to ensure that we do right by survivors of abuse. Again, I commend the immense bravery of those survivors who have come forward and condemn perpetrators of abuse. We are all conscious that abuse was not confined to religious-run organisations. Abuse, unfortunately, against children has happened in all sorts of settings and we must all condemn it outright wherever it occurs and do right by survivors. There are some specific actions we can adopt, like the Bill we have proposed and like, for example, honouring those survivors of abuse by Bishop Casey who have called for the removal of his remains from the crypt in Galway Cathedral. These are significant actions that can be taken to do justice by survivors and all of us, in government and opposition, should be committing to do so.

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