John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

On No. 2, the Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill, the Minister of State at the Department of Finance has undertaken to try to come to the House earlier. We will keep this matter under review and if it is necessary to amend the Order of Business as we come towards the end of Second Stage of the Health Bill 2006, we will do so to bring No. 2 forward. I hope the various spokespersons who will contribute to the debate on the Asset Covered Securities (Amendment) Bill will be able to fit in with those plans.

Senators Coghlan, Norris, Tuffy, Terry, Ormonde, John Paul Phelan, O'Toole and Mansergh all spoke about victims of abuse and the letter which was circulated. The one thing I would have to reject on behalf of the Government is that it is a declaration of war on these people. The Taoiseach has expressed his sympathy.

I take the point made by Senator O'Toole about previous incidents of a similar nature. Senator Mansergh probably made the most telling point of all when he spoke about the common good and the need for the Government to be conscious of it and to exert its moral authority. This is a classic case of that. I am sure the State must be guided by the advice it receives but at the end of the day, the Government makes decisions.

Like others, I am a member of the board of management of a primary school. As members of the board, we were left in no doubt as to our legal responsibilities. One such responsibility related to the use of school property after hours which the board wished to facilitate. However, from an insurance point of view, liability would have fallen on members of the board of management and it became very difficult. I accept the point that people act voluntarily. None of us sought indemnity but we were conscious of the fact we needed procedures in place to protect us in the event of a claim against the school.

The best way to deal with this matter is to attempt to get the Minister to come to the House, explain it in detail and give Members the definitive position on behalf of the Government.