David Norris (Independent)

I refer again to a matter I raised yesterday, that is, the atrocious sectarian murder in Coleraine. A loyalist group has re-routed its march, and that is very welcome. Speaking as a southern Protestant from a Unionist background, I ask the group to cancel the march completely because it is inappropriate for music to be played and people to march when a man is lying dead as a result of his religion.

Returning to the issue we discussed yesterday and about which Senator Harris has spoken so passionately, namely, the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Leader gave an undertaking, on a number of occasions, that he would go to the Department and get a reading on the motion I again propose be taken today which concerns exemptions from the operation of equality legislation. I do this in light of the fact the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Deputy John Moloney, yesterday gave an undertaking to the House that he would examine the issue. It is appropriate that we use this House to examine the issue, especially in light of the comments made this morning on RTE radio by Her Excellency, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, who said she knew about the situation. She said the report did not surprise her because she knew about the culture and ethic in the church at that time, which was of dominating authoritarianism.

If we all knew about it and the Government knew, how could the authorities surrender children to these authorities and place such a culture and ethic above the law? I am not anti-Catholic. I simply seek for all churches to be placed at a level of equality with the rest of the institutions. That cannot be seen as sectarian. It is fair.