Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the third interim report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The report refers to the investigation into the Baltimore school and is most important. Senator Fitzgerald dealt with some of the issues relating to Baltimore.

The Government has listened to the victims of abuse and an apology has been made on behalf of the State. I hope we can take positive action to redress the wrongs inflicted on the victims of abuse in the past. In the last Dáil I was chairman of the joint committee on education, of which Senator Ulick Burke was also a member, which dealt with the legislation on this issue. The committee held hearings, which took place over a long period of time, that were attended by many different organisations. While they were trying to achieve the same goal, there were differences in emphasis between the various groups. It amazed me that groups of emigrants came to visit the committee. There were two groups in London, a women's group and a men's group, whose members, at great inconvenience, came before the committee. The committee tried to facilitate these groups by holding meetings in the afternoons. They had a sad tale to tell and it was harrowing for both the groups and the members of the committee. I particularly recall Seamus O'Brien from Clonmel describing the abuse he suffered.

The differences in emphasis among the groups were always going to be difficult to resolve. Obviously, and especially given the age of the people involved, some groups were anxious to settle with the Department while others had other priorities, such as telling their story and giving evidence. It was difficult to deal with that but the Minister made it clear that he intended to do his best to resolve and achieve closure on the various issues.

I am disappointed to hear people criticising the Department and the accusation that it is not co-operating with the committee. I do not believe that is the case. The Minister of State, Deputy de Valera, and the Minister, Deputy Noel Dempsey, have both spoken about the huge amount of documentation which has been voluntarily handed over by the Department. It includes approximately 1,900 statements relating to cases before the investigation committee. The third interim report acknowledges that some of the difficulties were caused or contributed to by the committee in that, for example, there was insufficient clarity in the direction as to what was sought or insufficient time allowed for compliance. That demonstrates the difficulties. In addition, a significant number of people and a considerable amount of documentation are involved. If there is a problem with staffing or resources, it should be dealt with and I hope the Minister will do that.

In paying tribute to Ms Justice Laffoy, I also pay tribute to Mr. Ryan for his work. The best way to go forward is through the allocation of adequate staffing and resources. There is no point advocating that the matter be taken from the Department of Education and Science and be made the responsibility of the Taoiseach. What will that resolve? The Department has been dealing with this matter for many years, certainly since 1999 and 2000 when the education committee held hearings on it. That committee dealt with the issues as fairly as possible and, hopefully, it gave a chance to the people who came before it to tell their story.

I am also a little disappointed with the comments about the religious orders. The Minister spoke last night about the situation vis-À-vis the Christian Brothers. Mr. Ryan said that notice must be taken of the Christian Brothers' case and the potential effect of the ultimate judgment in the case on the proceedings of the investigation committee. I received documentation from the Congregation of Christian Brothers last October. The congregation stated it was co-operating with the commission. In its news release, however, it outlined the legal argument it was making and the preparation being conducted by senior counsel. It is not fair to criticise the congregation by saying it is not co-operating. That is not the case. The congregation is co-operating but the challenge it is making in the High Court affects the issues and, as the Minister said, we must await its outcome.

I welcome the work done by Ms Justice Laffoy and Mr. Ryan. However, teaching is a difficult profession and the provision of education, even today, is difficult. I worry when teachers say they do not feel they are supported. I hope we will give them the support they require. There were different circumstances in the situation dealt with by the report. It is not fair to criticise today's teaching staff for the serious mistakes made in the past.

I hope teachers will not be fearful or negative in their approach to education. Education should be a positive experience, although it certainly was not positive in the situations we have been discussing. Teachers say burnout is being experienced in the profession. I suppose burnout is being experienced in every profession but teachers need support, perhaps through the inspectorate, which did not exist in the past, because we can never let such a situation arise again. I do not believe it will arise again but I hope the work of this commission will be successful and that we can get around to dealing with the cases we heard vividly about in our hearings at the education committee in the past three or four years.