Brendan Ryan (Labour)

Yes, it was upheld by the Supreme Court. I agree with Senator O'Toole. Our debate should not impinge on the criminal investigations, which I hope are now ongoing, but we need to reflect on the institutional arrangements in the State, the degree to which they can be used to cover up the crimes of individuals and, to the degree that it exists, how the well-being of an institution is assumed to be more important than the well-being of children. We need to look at issues such as the claims now emerging and the advice given in guides on Canon Law. It is not particularly about one institution but institutional arrangements.

There should be a debate on the funding of sports organisations. I have always believed the GAA is the softest target in the country. If one is going to do sums about taxpayer support for organisations, one should look at the contribution to the overall funding of the organisation. There is a pitch in virtually every parish and a clubhouse in every second parish into which went very little taxpayer's money. If one looks at the total capital investment of the GAA in the last 20 years, the proportion of funding that came from the taxpayer is shamefully small given the contribution it makes to society. We should not talk about issues such as Croke Park in isolation. I am seeking a debate on the funding of sports organisations generally because the record of successive Governments on this issue is nothing less than shameful.