Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I believe not, but I do not know how one would frame a constitutional referendum to encompass everything that one would need to do. I know that we now have the National Children's Office and a Minister for Health and Children, as well as Ms Emily Logan, the Ombudsman for Children. However, that is toleration rather than an encompassing framework. I ask whether our safeguards for children as laid down in the Constitution are enough. I do not believe so, and that question may emerge from the joint committee. If it did, it would have been very worthwhile.

I know that one should not raise individual cases, but a woman amazed me when she phoned me yesterday. A 45 year old constituent, in a very level-headed manner, speaking quietly with no histrionics of any kind, told me of her father and brother. The former has passed away, while the latter lives in England. She had successfully submerged it in her mind, and no one knew the life that she had led as a young girl. She was the youngest of a large family, and neither her mother nor any other relative knew.

She had successfully submerged her past, married and had a good family life, but then it all came tumbling back. She said that her heart was bleeding. I am not saying this for the sake of sensationalism, but she told me that everything had risen up before her in a miasma of terror. She went into great detail with me regarding the blandishments that she had been offered. I spent almost an hour on the telephone with her, but I did not mind at all, since I was so struck by her story. She also mentioned the threats. It was the first time that I had ever come so close to a case history of abuse and what it meant to the person concerned. Through her own willpower, with no guidance or counselling, she had submerged it, but now it had all come tumbling out of the closet. It occurred to me that there must be many like her around the country.

Although much of what we heard was distorted, having had that telephone call, I felt an affinity with the victims. We will obviously go through the legislation. Wherever the proposal originated, a joint committee to scrutinise it as soon as it passes is a good idea, as Senator Tuffy said. We should also examine the wider questions and give some thought to children's status in the Constitution. We must show courage as legislators, since we often have to face very unpalatable Bills, ideas or principles. As long as we can have balanced debate, we must do so.