Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister and Minister of State for progressing the commission of investigation. It matters to me, as it matters to all previous speakers. This is a very solemn day, not because we are beginning something new but because we are acknowledging something that was hidden for many years.

The commission is being established because survivors of childhood sexual abuse, both men and women, had the courage to speak. I thank them for that. They have broken silences imposed on them by shame, industrial-institutional power and societal difference. Their testimony has illustrated a dark and systemic failure that occurred not in a single place or era but in day and boarding schools right across our country, spanning generations. The scoping inquiry uncovered almost 2,400 allegations involving more than 880 alleged abusers in 308 schools between 1927 and 2013, which is not that long ago. Many of the allegations were reported from the records of approximately 42 religious orders that currently or previously ran schools in Ireland. These are not just statistics. Every number represents a child's life altered and a trust betrayed.

The Government's acceptance of the inquiry's recommendations, including a comprehensive investigation into the handling by schools, religious orders, State bodies and law enforcement of allegations, is both welcome and essential. So, too, is the appointment of Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath as chair of the commission. His legal experience, including his service in the High Court and the Court of Appeal, ensures the work will be done and guided with independence and integrity.

We must reflect on the substance of the terms of reference.

They go beyond historical fact finding and direct the commission to ask difficult but essential questions. Why were concerns not acted on? How were allegations concealed and-or ignored? What was the role of schools, religious authorities and the State? The inquiry will not only look into what happened, but how it was handled or, indeed, mishandled. That includes failures to report abuse, the shielding of abusers, the moving of individuals between schools and dioceses and the use of legal processes to silence and deflect accountability.

The terms of reference also rightly include a survivor engagement programme, grounded in a trauma-informed approach. This will also allow survivors and the family members of those who cannot speak for themselves to share the impact of their experiences in a safe, supportive and open setting. Their voices are not peripheral to this process; rather, they are central to it.

Some will ask why this has taken so long, why it did not happen sooner and why revisit painful history. The answer is quite simple. Justice does not expire. For too long survivors felt invisible. This commission is a chance to acknowledge that what happened to them mattered, that it should never have happened and that we as a State take responsibility not just for uncovering the truth but for acting on it.

We must ensure that what emerges from the commission leads to real, lasting change. The scoping inquiry found our current child protection systems are robust, but there is always more to be done. Let this commission serve not only as a reckoning with our past, but as a recommitment to the future of our children where safeguarding is not optional and silence is never again a shield for abuse.

Courage can be a challenge and everyone who has the courage to speak out should be commended. They might find solace in knowing their story will contribute to the safeguarding of the youth of today.

To the survivors, I say to them that they have been heard and acknowledged. I thank them for that. This motion, investigation and moment are because of their strength. While we cannot undo the past, we can honour their testimony with action, honesty and a firm commitment to justice. I urge all Members of this House to support the motion. Let us approve the establishment of the committee of investigation, not as a symbolic gesture but as a concrete step in a long journey towards justice, accountability and, ultimately, healing.

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