Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I add my voice to those who have expressed horror at the findings of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. I do not want to understate or belittle in any way the very serious institutional abuse by adding that I believe a great deal of abuse is happening outside the institutions as well. We could well have a debate on how people might be persuaded to come forward about current abuse, not only in institutions but outside them, for example, within families. Such victims should be offered support and assured they will get the level of help they need once they come forward.

Today, the Dáil will debate the issue of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This is an ongoing and difficult condition which causes people to die at a young age. However, the quality of life of people who have the condition could be improved because opportunities for this are being developed in Newcastle. I ask the Leader to mirror the discussion in the other House and arrange for a debate on Duchenne and other forms of muscular dystrophy. People are dying, having enjoyed only a short life although measures are available to slow the progress of the disease. We must discuss this issue.

On previous occasions, I raised the issue of ordnance survey maps showing Londonderry and Doire but not Derry. It has been brought to my attention that the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs has sent refusals of applications for jobseeker's allowance to people who, while they may not live in the Twenty-six Counties, their families come from here and they have had many interactions across the Border over many years. These people have received letters containing sentences such as: you came to reside in Ireland in 2009, having lived outside Ireland all of your life; your centre of interest is not Ireland; you have no links or family ties in Ireland; your immediate family resides outside Ireland and; you do not have an employment record in Ireland.

In a post-Good Friday Agreement context, if those words were written by someone other than a Department of our Government we would be quick to reject the assertion that people who live on part of our island have no connection whatsoever with Ireland. I ask that we look at the language being used in these letters and in other official documentation. How many other Departments are using similarly offensive language on behalf of the Irish people?