Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for sharing time. It is important that as many speakers as possible have an opportunity to contribute to this important debate. I commend the excellent work of Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy, chairperson of the commission of investigation into the Diocese of Cloyne, and her colleagues, Ms Ita Mangan and Mr. Hugh O'Neill, in producing this detailed and comprehensive report. I thank the Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, for coming to the House for the debate on this extremely important matter.

Members of this House have expressed their sympathy for the victims whose suffering is set out in the report. Nothing will ever compensate them for the sexual abuse they suffered during the period covered by the report, namely, January 1996 to 1 February 2009. Section 1.18 in the overview to the report outlines the reaction of the Vatican to the matter. We all have a responsibility in respect of this issue. The State also has an enormous responsibility. That is why it is extremely important, as Senator Darragh O'Brien indicated, that a date be set in respect of the holding of the referendum. The Minister formerly served as a member of the all-party committee and she took a very active role in its deliberations. Former Members of this House also served on that committee, which was chaired by the former Minister for Education, Mary O'Rourke. The recommendations made by that committee in respect of the vetting agency are being adhered to, in the main, and the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is establishing this entity on a statutory basis. In fact, the Minister is complying with most of the all-party committee's recommendations. The fact that Deputy Fitzgerald has been appointed as a full Cabinet Minister is an indication of the recognition by the Government of the role of children in society. Former Ministers of State previously held positions in the Government.

The leader of my party played an important role in respect of the Ryan report, particularly in the context of his contacts with the papal nuncio. That fact was placed on record at the time but I wish to highlight it again now. I hope there will be a positive response from the Vatican in respect of the Cloyne report. Ireland's ambassador to the Holy See, Mr. Noel Fahey - an old school friend of mine - has retired and a vacancy exists as a result. I hope there will be a continuation of direct ambassadorial links between the Vatican and Ireland. Such links have played an important role in the past. We should not forget the support the State received in the past - in the context of the international arena - as a result of its contacts with the Vatican.

This matter does not just relate to the clergy, it also involves lay people. The case in Donegal is a typical example of the involvement of lay people. I served as a member of the visiting committee of the Curragh Prison and I came into contact with many people who were in prison as a result of child abuse. I made the point to those individuals that they were charged with a particular responsibility above and beyond all others and that they broke the trust relating to that responsibility. That is why they are being targeted more than others. I am of the view that lay people, parents and anyone else who has been involved in any form of child abuse must serve their sentences. I hope that the cover-up which has obtained in this country for so long will be broken for all time and that children will be placed first.