Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Fitzgerald's request that the debate on the Ryan commission report into child abuse be held in sessions. Given that the report is published in five volumes, it will be difficult to cover everything in a single session. We owe it to the victims to take our time and not rush the issue. The agenda of the House is not such that we would be unable to have five debates on the report.

On my way to the House this afternoon, I was listening to the "Liveline" show with Joe Duffy which featured a woman who entered Goldenbridge industrial school at the age of 13 years. The lady in question was not sent to school and did not receive an education. At the end of the conversation, Mr. Duffy asked her whether she had read the Ryan commission report, to which she replied that she could not do so because she could not read or write. Did the commission take into consideration that many of the victims of abuse cannot read or write? Is it possible to release the contents of the report in audio form, thus giving those who cannot read or write an opportunity to listen to a spoken version?

I was shocked to hear Sister Marianne O'Connor, who I understand is a Sligo woman, speaking on "Morning Ireland" today.