David Norris (Independent)

I agree with my colleagues that it is important to examine the Cloyne report. A few days should pass before we discuss it because it should be discussed in a calm and forensic manner. I say this because I have spoken on all the previous reports and I never spoke until I had read them in detail and thought about the implications.

The implications are extremely sad. I listened on the radio to a man whose daughter was abused. There were terrible consequences for her. He remains a Christian which I think must be rather difficult. There is a good deal of pain there and we must respect the pain that ordinary Catholic citizens and ordinary decent clergy feel. Unless I am mistaken I believe that Archbishop Diarmuid Martin comes out of this reasonably well. Perhaps, he did not get the support that he should have. I suggest we take this matter seriously but only after we have had an opportunity to reflect.

I strongly support Senator Mac Conghail and I am delighted that he raised the matter of the arts. I am flattered that he mentioned me and my small contribution, which is minute in comparison to other people, including Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú. However, he is absolutely right about the role of artists. I go back as far as Plato. Plato banned poets from the new Republic because poets were liars and artists were unreliable. That is part of their wonderful value.

I think back on two men I am proud to have known as friends and teachers, the late Sean O'Faolain and the late Frank O'Connor. Both were deeply involved in the Republican movement that gave us this independent State. However, the minute they had it, they turned into some of its sternest critics and exposed the hypocrisy involved. Once a State is established one begins to get institutions and those institutions must not be immune from criticism. I agree with Shelley that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of mankind. Often, the artistic voice has prophetic knowledge and insight. At least after the Celtic tiger there are 70 theatres throughout the country which is wonderful. We should bear in mind the Trondheim report that came out some weeks ago which demonstrates clearly that involvement in the arts at local level by ordinary citizens has a significant impact on mental well-being.