Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

While much of the contents of the Ferns Report were in the public domain, particularly since the charges against Sean Fortune in the mid-1990s, it would be fair to say that, nonetheless, it makes shocking reading. It is a sad and sorry chapter in the history of the diocese of Ferns which was founded in 598. It is a diocese with a proud history. During the rebellion of 1798, many priests made the ultimate sacrifice in support of their people.

I listened recently to the retired rector, Norman Ruddock, who has written a book entitled The Rambling Rector. In the book he acknowledges he was abused as a young boy. He made a statement in the review on radio that the rape of innocence is a most bestial crime. I do not believe anybody could do other than fully concur with that statement.

Many of those who were abused have got on with their lives but I would imagine reports such as this reopen old wounds for them. Others are still suffering the trauma and effects. This has been a life-changing experience for quite a number of the people involved. Unfortunately, some people committed suicide as a consequence of the effects of the abuse. That puts into perspective the consequences of this appalling period.

Like other speakers and the inquiry, I pay tribute to the victims who came forward and who showed such courage, despite the fact their wounds were being reopened. The inquiry acknowledges it was impressed with the dignity and clarity of those witnesses. One of them has shown tremendous courage, namely, Colm O'Gorman of the One in Four organisation. I was a friend and former political colleague of his late father.

It would be fair to say Bishop Eamonn Walsh has been acknowledged by all since the report was issued as having played a pivotal role in restoring and in ensuring that the protection of children has been the overriding priority in the diocese since his tenure in office began. The inquiry complimented Bishop Walsh on making privileged material available. The report states that this level of co-operation went beyond anything the inquiry could have required or which a court of law could have compelled.

As other speakers have done, I acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Justice Frank Murphy, Dr. Helen Buckley and Dr. Laraine Joyce in preparing this report and George Birmingham whose initial report provided the basis for the inquiry. Along with other speakers, I too compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan. He has been very sure-footed and has handled this obviously alarming report in a safe way. His immediate response of implementing its recommendations was welcome and reassuring to all.

I knew some of the abusers and some of the abused and I saw the effects on those who were abused, in particular. Fr. Sean Fortune was curate in Fethard-on-Sea where I spent my summers with my children when they were young. We attended mass in Poulfor. I always found his sermons incisive and interesting. On one occasion when I was not there but which I heard about subsequently he gave a sermon on the need for parishioners to increase their contributions. When he knelt down at the altar with the soles of his shoes facing the congregation, there were two big holes in the soles. Anybody who knew the man would have known he was capable of being very manipulative. In that regard, I acknowledge the difficulties anybody, including Bishop Comiskey, would have had in dealing with and trying to control the situation. That is something Bishop Comiskey fully acknowledged in his resignation statement and apology. While Bishop Comiskey deserves criticism for his failure to effectively manage the appalling problems which confronted him, the inquiry states that he sought advice on Canon Law on a number of occasions to enable him to remove priests from their positions once complaints had been made but that the advice he got was not helpful to him in that regard.

I have no doubt Bishop Comiskey's failure to deal with the issue was compounded by his alcoholism. That raises an issue of the overall management and accountability of bishops in the church. It is a hierarchical structure and the church faces a challenge in that regard. I am not sure it is for me as a politician to tell it what it should do. In a private capacity as a Christian and a Catholic I might do so, but it is not for this forum.

While Bishop Comiskey has rightly come in for criticism for his management failures, he did a great deal of good work in the diocese, particularly in helping people in times of need and strongly promoting ecumenism. I recall his apology in the cathedral in 1998 for the Fethard boycott, which had occurred 40 years previously. That was very much welcomed by Bishop Neill, who was present, and other members of the Protestant community.

Bishop Comiskey also raised the issue of celibacy within the church and commenced a public debate in this regard. The Ferns Report states at page 36 that following consultations with a number of experts, the inquiry team believed the vow of celibacy could have been a contributory factor in the abuse. It is important to acknowledge this in the grand scheme of things. We all have our shortcomings and good points and these must be examined when assessing an individual. I refer to a prayer sometimes uttered by Christians in the vernacular: Dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut et nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris. If we live by that, we will not go far wrong.

I am particularly sorry for the many good priests in the diocese, whose pastoral care of families in times of difficulty and bereavement is welcomed and appreciated by the public, as Senator Feeney said. They are readily available for support and their selfless devotion to the interests of others should be acknowledged, particularly at a time like this. Society needs their vocation and their ministry and it is important that they should not be totally demoralised. The House has debated suicide and many other issues that afflict society and those ministering all religions, particularly those in the Catholic Church, need encouragement and support.

The contribution of the Catholic Church historically to the State has been enormous. The church provided facilities for people in the areas of education and health, especially in the early stages of our independence, which would not have been available but for the selfless work of the many who served within the church. Ireland is evolving and the State's financial position is much different to that which pertained following independence and, therefore, the Government is investing heavily in both education and health. Given the reduction in vocations, perhaps the time has come to consider a more proactive role for the State in both sectors at local level. The centralisation of our health services may not be the best option but in education there is no reason to prevent county councillors from becoming members of boards of management. In addition, county councils could become the fora at which the chairmen of boards of management would be nominated in line with recent legislation passed by the House relating to the joint policing committees. That model could be usefully considered in this area.

As Senator Lydon stated, even 1% of abuse is unacceptable but this must be kept in perspective because abuse by religious comprises 3.2% of all cases. While I support the fulfilment of the commitment to hold a Ferns-style inquiry in the Archdiocese of Dublin, I do not subscribe to the view that such an inquiry should be held in every diocese. The Minister's proposal to establish the extent of abuse in other dioceses is probably the correct approach. However, the full implementation of the recommendations of the Ferns Report is needed and I welcome the Minister's commitment in that regard. Every caution should be exercised to protect children in all areas.

We must recognise the primacy of State law over Canon Law or other laws. I welcome the recommendation for an offence of reckless endangerment, thereby ensuring a legal obligation on people to report cases of abuse. Ease of access for those who are abused and who wish to make the violations known must be a priority. The PSNI has instituted positive measures in this regard, which should be examined. Public awareness of the crime should be increased and counselling for those who have been abused and those who have a predilection to abuse is important.

It would be a travesty to focus only on clerical sexual abuse to the detriment of a holistic approach to protect children in other spheres such as sporting organisations, the classroom or at home. This issue must be approached on the basis that the abuse of a child will not be tolerated by society. All steps and precautions should be taken to minimise and eradicate it.