Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

This is a welcome opportunity to discuss an issue that has been to the forefront of people's minds in recent weeks. It is important to remember the comments of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs not only on the Government apology to victims of abuse on behalf of the State but also the need to take positive action to redress the wrongs inflicted in the past. Like other speakers, I regret the decision of Ms Justice Laffoy to resign her position as chairman of the commission. She did important work and I hope her successor, Mr. Seán Ryan, will be successful as chairman.

Some years ago the education committee discussed this legislation. The Acting Chairman, Senator Ulick Burke, was a member of that committee and I was its chairman. We had many requests for submissions from people who had been abused, including from Survivors of Child Abuse and Right of Place. Senator Ó Murchú, Senator Ormonde and Senator O'Toole were also members of that committee. We acceded to those requests and held many long debates on this serious issue.

There were a number of representations from survivors of abuse living overseas, including a committee in London for female survivors of child abuse. Their situation was particularly bad. They spoke about their disadvantages and the fact that some of them had lived in destitution over the years because they were unable to get employment. They felt the need to come to our committee and to the commission to tell their story. One of the main points they made was that they hoped action would be taken quickly. The Right of Place committee was particularly keen to have the decision delivered as quickly as possible. They made the point that they were elderly and did not want the existing situation to continue indefinitely.

There was good reason for carrying out the review after the commission was established. The Minister for Education and Science set out his reasons for the review. We all hoped that action would be taken to ensure the report of the commission would be delivered as soon as possible. We did not want a situation to arise where a report would be challenged in the courts, leading to an adversarial situation in the courts which would delay a result for people who deserved to have final closure on this issue.

There has been much discussion on the question of the contribution by the religious congregations. A figure of €128 million was mentioned as a voluntary contribution by them. Subsequently, we heard from the Comptroller and Auditor General that the State ultimately could pay in the region of €1 billion.