Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister. Fine Gael welcomes the setting up of this commission. We have for a long time supported the right of the victims of abuse to tell their stories and for the fullness of their abuse and exploitation to be realised. We believe this issue is so important that it merits time and resource investment from the Government in order to ensure that it is properly treated.

As we debate this issue, it is only right to remember that a lady, Marie ThereseO'Loughlin, has been outside the gates of Leinster House for some time. She is continuing in her constant vigil outside, even sleeping there at night to draw attention to the fact that the Government has repeatedly refused to recognise its responsibilities in respect of the Morning Star home. It is no use playing to the gallery on certain issues, and showing apparent compassion and concern. This lady's plight needs to be addressed urgently because the way she is being treated at present is disgraceful.

Any commission established by this House must be accountable and transparent and it is imperative that such bodies give people cause for confidence. The guidelines laid down by the Minister are good ones and will get to the bottom of the abuse that was allegedly perpetrated in the Dublin diocese, although many would say that an investigation is long overdue.

There are important lessons to be learned from the Ferns Report and the manner in which it was compiled. It is an understatement to say that the contents of that document were scandalous and depraved and it goes without saying that they made difficult and distressing reading. Nonetheless, it is an extremely important document in so far as it published and publicised the horror that so many children had to endure in County Wexford. This commission must use the forthrightness and directness of the Ferns Report as its compass. There is no doubt that what is uncovered and exposed by successive commissions of this kind is unsavoury and sickening. The reason for revealing these dire events, however, is to learn from past mistakes. We must ensure that these horrors are never again perpetrated in our society.

Many of the victims of past abuse and neglect have had shocking and distressing experiences. It was right and proper that they were given the opportunity to tell their stories and to tell us all how society failed them in the past so that we can make sure these events are not repeated. With many of the victims of abuse approaching old age, the commission should hear their cases now. These people have much to tell us and future generations about the kind of barbarity that can exist in a society which fails to be vigilant or protect the vulnerable. We need to hear their stories so that we never forget this abuse.

It is incumbent on us, as legislators, to put safeguards in place that will ensure the protection of children. The first step along this road is to hear the wrongs that have been committed and to air them to the satisfaction of all concerned, so that there can be no obfuscation on the facts. This commission, which people have been demanding for some time, is entirely necessary. We support its establishment and hope it will be able to bring a report to the Minister within the specified period of time because it is important to set time limits for such bodies. I hope the problems that arose for the Laffoy commission in terms of not providing the necessary finance and resources to bring forward its report will not arise in this instance.