Joe O'Toole (Independent)

On the Ryan report, I complimented the Leader previously on arranging the debate, as did Senator Fitzgerald. It was the first debate to take place in the Houses. It was immediate and was important for that reason. It was also important to survivors who mentioned it to me on many occasions. The Leader also made the point, which was raised by Senator Alex White yesterday, that it is an issue to which we need to come back. We should do that but in the meantime, it is absolutely crucial that we look beyond the Ryan report to see where we are going. A number of things need to be done.

This House is aware that within the next six weeks, the Government response from the Minister of State with responsibility for children to the Ryan report will be published, as will the Archdiocese of Dublin report into clerical child sexual abuse. This House will be in recess when the Government report is published but we should return to debate it. We should do the same when the Archdiocese of Dublin report is published.

The Dublin archdiocese is sitting on more assets than any other group in the country. I make that point because while the Residential Institutions Redress Board is doing its work, we are now aware that this went far beyond residential institutions. We need to ensure people who were abused in schools and other places and who may not have been resident in them also have access to redress.

In that regard, the churches and other groups have a role to play, and I am not just hammering the churches. We should set the agenda. Every victim and survivor is entitled to be respected and to have an opportunity for some redress.

Le dhá lá anuas, I raised na deacrachtaí ar leith a bhí ag Foinse. Inné phléamar an t-ábhar mar bhí cruinniú le bheith ann idir bainistíocht Foinse agus Foras na Gaeilge. Ní raibh aon dul chun cinn mar gheall ar an gcruinniú sin. I do not want anybody to have any doubts about this. The only Irish language newspaper is going out of business because the State will not make provision for it. I am appalled by the apparent attitude of the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs who, as I said before, is quick to come into the House and argue minor points of Irish language policy.

This is a significant issue for the intellectual life of the country, in terms of current affairs information for people in the Gaeltacht and for the development of many aspects of Irish life, including Irish language schools etc. The Minister said Foras na Gaeilge, the channel through which Foinse gets its money, is a North-South body over which he has no control. That is a cowardly abrogation of responsibility.

I have said to the Leader before that North-South bodies do not report to the Dáil or the Seanad but that Ministers should tell us what is going on in them. This is an example of why I asked for that. The Minister is walking away from this. Foras na Gaeilge said it will extend the contract for the publication of Foinse but extending the contract is no good without the money to do so. This is crucially important.

I support the point made by Senator Twomey that we should discuss a motion this afternoon. Parties, Government and otherwise, should have a bit of fire in their bellies discussing this issue. Members on both sides should be prepared to vote on a motion. I second the amendment to the Order of Business. I apologise for going over my time.