Seanad debates
Tuesday, 7 October 2003
Order of Business: Motion. - Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements.
The role of the Government is to provide leadership. The Government is a player as well, given that the Department of Education and Science had a role in this issue in the past. That must be separated from the role of the current Government and the need for it to provide leadership and ensure matters proceed correctly. That is not an easy road to travel. It will require careful management of the issue and a considerable level of leadership, which has not been seen so far. There has been an apology from the Taoiseach but, as Senator Tuffy pointed out, that apology is empty because it was not followed up with clear action. The Taoiseach promised but he did not deliver. That, again, is a repetition of the experience many victims have had. Our society has promised them that it will live up to its responsibilities in terms of what happened to them in the past, and we are failing to do that. Until we succeed in doing that and face up to our responsibilities in this area, we cannot close this chapter and move on.
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