Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senators Fitzgerald, O'Toole, Ryan, Feeney, Coghlan, Hanafin, Norris, Daly, Twomey, Callely, Mullen, Quinn, Ó Murchú and Mary White expressed their strong views, shock and horror, at the report which has focused the attention of everyone in the country on events we wish had never happened. Violence and crimes were perpetrated against children. Senators will have an opportunity tomorrow to express their opinions and make suggestions to the Minister for Education and Science. The report comprises 3,600 pages and Members will require a considerable amount of time to read it. As Senator O'Donovan noted last week, there is an urgent need for a referendum on children.

For generations, priests and nuns have made their mark throughout the world. They have given their lives to assisting the education of poor people and bringing the faith all over the world. This report has highlighted the complete negation of the men and women who gave up their lives to bring religion to the people of the world and to help all of us from day to day. This is not the future of the religious and, now it is out in the open, let us hope we can learn from the experience and introduce whatever legislation and other measures are necessary.

The Government of the day had to give serious consideration to the advice of its Attorney General but this Government commissioned this report and the Taoiseach apologised to the people of Ireland and all those who suffered. As Members of the Oireachtas, we do not condone what happened in any shape or form. I look forward to allocating further time for dealing with these issues as a matter of urgency.

Senator Ryan made a passionate plea to the House on behalf of a constituent. If he provides me with a copy of his correspondence after the Order of Business, I will use my office to assist the person.

Senator Callely called for a debate on transport and welcomed the investment in the N8, which is ahead of time and below budget. The late great Séamus Brennan made this possible when, as Minister for Transport, he introduced corrective measures for achieving value for money and completing contracts on time based, of course, on hard experience.

Senator Leyden expressed his disappointment that some people have been left off the electoral register even though they had been on it for the preceding 40 years. It should be possible to replace names on the register, particularly if they have been on it for lengthy periods. Often, the last two names on a page are inadvertently left out due to typing errors or unknown reasons with the result that people cannot vote. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government should on a pilot basis consult with postmen and postwomen, who are the first to know when constituents move into an area. What is to stop us from trying this out for one election? The Minister will be pleasantly surprised, even 14 days before an election, because post office staff are intimately aware of everything that happens in an area.

Senator Quinn pointed out that the incidence of e.coli in Irish water is 30 times higher than in the UK. This is an alarming statistic and I will pass his views on to the Minister for a response.

Senator Keaveney expressed her horror about the unfortunate tragedy in Northern Ireland over the weekend. If this is sectarianism, we will do what we can do to highlight that to everyone concerned and the great working relationship we have with our colleagues in Stormont and London. We thought sectarianism was all over and done with it and this incident was a major shock to everyone on the island and those who respect life. We thought we would only see 40 people punishing a person to death in old films going back many years. I send my condolences to the wife and family of the poor man who lost his life because of this over the weekend.

We have a debate on the Irish language in the House every year and Senator Keaveney is correct to call for that. This will happen.