Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael)

Like Senator Bradford and others, I have been impressed by the well-founded and eloquent contributions that have been made in this House today. I am proud to be a part of it. As everyone has said, the revelations outlined in Mr. Justice Ryan's report are appalling and shocking. I join Senators O'Toole and Norris in calling for a debate on this issue today. We could set ten minutes aside. A Minister would not have to be present. Perhaps the Leader will agree to that. We could have a fuller debate with the Minister when time allows. For some time now, it has been shocking for us to realise that so much damage was inflicted on young people in this country in years gone by. The number of people in religious orders who inflicted it was quite small, thankfully. We have to realise that in those days, people got into positions of authority without being properly vetted. I hope the climate is much different today. I think it is. A great deal of good education was provided by some of these orders. I refer to the Christian Brothers, the De La Salle Brothers and the Presentation Brothers, for example. We do not want that to be totally overlooked. The perpetrators of these foul deeds were not dealt with. There was a culture of cover-up. We have seen it in banking, politics and business in recent times. It has infected all strata of Irish society, sadly. I would like to think we have got rid of it, but I cannot say we have. Human nature being what it is, we have all been affected by original sin, so to speak. I would like to add my voice to the many good, strong and trenchant contributions have been made today. I ask the Leader to facilitate a short debate on this matter today, as requested by my colleagues, and to arrange a more substantive debate as early as possible in the weeks to come.