Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I strongly support the comments of Senator Fitzgerald and others about the ongoing abuse of children in our society. I would like to have a debate soon on the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse which will bring up some scarifying issues that will reflect badly on how decisions were made in our society and specifically on the failure of those in authority in residential institutions, and those acting on the part of the State, to check, prevent and punish wrongdoing.

I commend in absentia our colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, for a fine press release in which he talks of the dignity of the human person being central. It is worth quoting because it is not often one hears philosophical but highly relevant statements such as this expressed in party political press releases:

[W]e regard the human being as the subject, not the object, of history. This brings us to respect human life in all its forms and at all stages, to respect human dignity in medical and genetic advancements.

I hope that speaks for the entire Fine Gael Party, for Government and other parties in this House. That can shine a light on the important debate we need to have on the way we treated the most vulnerable in our society in residential institutions in the past and on how we deal with people at present.

It is interesting to reflect on what appears to be a regrettable move from supporting the cross-Border facility for children with autism, which interestingly is located in Middletown on a site where the St. Louis Sisters operated a residential centre for children who had suffered as a result of the Troubles. That is the kind of issue that brings out the nuance in all of this. There was great generosity and great neglect, sometimes fite fuaite le chéile in a very unacceptable way.

Let me raise the issue of the blasphemy amendment very briefly. It seems those who talk about it being a distraction are the ones causing the distraction. There are arguments for and against the proposal. We need to have a debate very soon on the appropriateness of international bodies putting their welly in, so to speak, on issues in respect of which we are best placed to decide the precise nuance we want in our laws. This is becoming a bit oppressive of our national sovereignty regarding important issues.