Seanad debates

Thursday, 30 June 2011

10:30 am

Photo of Mark DalyMark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I move an amendment to the Order of Business: "That No. 12 be taken before No. 1. on the Order of Business." It is a procedural issue on the publication of the NAMA Transparency Bill 2011.

Will the Deputy Leader bring the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to the House to deal with the fact that the church is still not aiding the child sex abuse audit. It is an appalling situation. CORI and some religious dioceses are refusing to co-operate with the National Board for Safeguarding Children in completing the audit required of the church authorities. They are hiding behind, of all things, data protection. The Data Protection Commissioner told them last November that there were no data production issues, yet the audit has not been completed. I understand only three dioceses and three bishops have assisted the board in trying to complete the audit. It is difficulty to understand how an organisation supposedly - I would nearly use "allegedly" - dedicated to helping the vulnerable and telling all of us who follow the creed that we must take responsibility for our actions is hiding behind a false veil of data protection in order not to complete an audit of the abuse that took place under its watch. Truth be told, people in high positions within the Catholic Church are afraid that when the audits are completed, they will be exposed as not having acted when they should have. Will the Deputy Leader invite the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to attend the House to clarify that CORI can hand over this information and that there will be no legal implications for it? I look forward to the Minister taking the Adjournment issue raised by Senator Clune because the NAMA legislation is about the transparency and openness required by the agency concerning the sale of its assets and the establishment of a website to do so.

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