Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House. I am very pleased that this piece of legislation is before the House today. In February 2004, after the Baltimore story was brought to us through the media, I spoke in this House. I have the same type of feeling of shame today. Shame on us all. This is something that has been neglected by all parties and Governments from the commencement of this State. It should not be made a political football by any party.

As a Fianna Fáil Senator I will be the first to put up my hand and say "shame on us all". I feel a terrible sadness that children could be affected as they have been. I am a mother of four children in their late teens and early adulthood. I would kill if anything happened to any of those children at the hand of an adult in whose care I had put them. If I have feelings like that, how must it be for those people who have been abused? Unlike Senator Ryan, however, I am glad that Deputy Hanafin is the Minister for Education and Science. I have known her for more years than we might like to mention. I know the Department is in very capable hands and that she will leave no stone unturned to ensure the victims of child sexual abuse will get a fair hearing and what is due to them.

I agree with Senator Ryan's point, however, that this was an abuse of power. It certainly was. Power is a wonderful thing, but when it is abused it is the most destructive commodity of all. I hope now, through this piece of legislation, that the victims will be allowed to tell their story. Almost as if the shoe is on the other foot, the power will now be in the hands and voices of those victims who had to go through what they did.

The Minister has outlined the purpose of the Bill, which is to give effect to the recommendation of the review group's report to the Government and the subsequent recommendation of Mr. Justice Ryan. The Bill proposes to help the commission to complete a full inquiry into child abuse within a reasonable timeframe and at a reduced cost. I have picked out a few sections that are of interest to me. In section 3, I fully support the change in "clarification of serious offences", carrying a sentence of five years to an offence carrying a sentence of one year. In my view child abuse is a serious offence and poses a serious threat to any child, whatever its nature. It is therefore right that we should lower it to a sentence carrying one year as opposed to five.

I welcome the extension in section 4 of the functions of the commission to include a duty to inquire into the manner in which children were placed in institutions and the circumstances in which they were residents. We have all heard and read sad stories of children being placed in institutions for apparently spurious reasons.

Speaking on this issue in the House last year, I referred to an article written by Kevin Myers in The Irish Times, in which he outlined how, as a young journalist 20 years ago, he exposed child sexual abuse in institutional homes. At the time, he had to submit his articles for editing because he was a junior journalist. When he asked why the editors erased every mention of the name of an institution or abuser he was looked at as if he had two heads and told it was not politically correct to mention names of abusers. I am glad we have come a long way in the 20 years since, even if Senator Ryan and other Senators do not believe this to be the case. I, for one, would not be afraid to name people if firm evidence were available.

As Senators will be aware, mothers were sometimes placed in institutions because their unmarried status did not fit in with the moral thinking of the time. In the town in which I grew up, the children of large families who fell on hard times, whether as a result of poverty or because the mother became medically unfit to rear her family, were placed in institutions. Sadly, children with whom I grew up were abused in institutions.

It is unfortunate that the House is discussing an issue one would expect to arise in a Third World country. Sadly, however, these events took place in Ireland not so long ago and it is for this reason that I warmly welcome the powers proposed for the commission. As often is the case, the greatest abuse occurred to people taken into the care of others.

The amendment proposed in section 5 is welcome. It is eminently sensible that the commission can conduct its inquiry in one, rather than two, phases as it will speed up its work and save costs. The speediness of the proceedings will hasten closure for those who have suffered and reduced costs will make additional moneys available for the fund to help those who have been abused.

As the Minister outlined, section 6 proposes to amend section 11 of the principal Act, which should also speed up the work of the commission. I was glad to learn that provision will be made to hold joint hearings of cases involving an alleged common abuser. People need support and find it easier to tell their story if a friend or another person has been in the same position and sings from the same hymn sheet.

The Minister also mentioned the division of the committee to operate under a single member of the commission. I welcome this change as it allows several inquires to be held at the same time. When serious inquiries arose on the Medical Council during the five years on which I have served on it, we broke up the inquiry team to allow several hearings to be held simultaneously. Again, this amendment is in the interest of the public, particularly the victims of abuse.

Section 9, which amends section 14 of the principal Act, is welcome as it should ensure greater co-operation with the commission. As the Minister noted, this legislation will greatly assist the commission in completing its work into child abuse within a sensible framework and at an affordable cost. It also establishes an independent statutory scheme of educational supports for survivors and their families.

I live in the north west, the location of a highly publicised case of child sexual abuse which took place in the home. Members of the family affected have stated that education empowered them to tell of the horrific childhood they endured. The Minister indicated that €12.7 million had been allocated to administer an education fund. I am open to correction but I understand €1.7 million of this figure has been spent to date. Education enables people to come out, tell their story and move on, as it were.

I hope all victims of abuse will get solace, healing and vindication, both from the report and the process into which they are about to enter. I also hope they will be able to move on with their lives as best they can. The childhood and teenage years stolen from them can never be replaced by the State, the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse or anyone else.

We all feel shame that these events were allowed to happen. I hope the commission will be able to help victims to reach a point at which they can close off a part of their lives they want to forget. I hope, in time, they will be able to forget and move on.

Responsibility for this issue is with the appropriate Department. I extend my best wishes to the Minister who will leave no stone unturned to ensure justice is done.