Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

What more could the Department of the Taoiseach do on this issue than the Department of Education and Science? I find this recommendation difficult to understand. The same work has to be put in no matter what Department is involved. The Minister for Education and Science made a commitment. He is the sponsor of the commission and he is responding to the difficulties that have arisen. He has made a commitment to provide additional resources. He stated, in his reply, that the fundamental issue regarding the investigative committee was that much of the homework had not been done and that staff employed did not understand the impact of what was involved. A specialised unit within the Department is required to implement this process. I welcome the Minister's commitment on that issue. Correct processes and procedures must be put in place and the right people, who can discover documents when required by the investigative committee, must be made available. This is where the delay has arisen. If those measures are put in place, the commission will do its work.

I congratulate Ms Justice Laffoy on the work she has done to date. I am sorry that she had to resign. I wish the new chairman, Mr. Ryan, every success. I hope he will speed up the process because he has an understanding of what is involved. As already stated, we were previously in uncharted waters. Now that we have established an independent process to review how we can speed up matters, I am sure that results will be forthcoming. The associations representing victims of sexual abuse are responding well and have acknowledged that the Government is attempting — we may not succeed — to put matters right.

I welcome the report. I also welcome the fact that the difficult areas relating to processes, procedures and how best to put in place the unit designed to redress the wrongs were highlighted in it. I have no doubt that, in the wake of this report, the new chairman will help to bring about closure.