Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

The Commission of Investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne is a deeply upsetting document that describes the handling of allegations, complaints, suspicions and concerns about child abuse in that diocese.

Yet again, following on from the Ryan report and the first Murphy report into the Dublin Archdiocese, we have heard more harrowing stories and learned more about the terrible cost of child abuse. We have learned of more lost childhoods, more traumatised adult lives and more relationships deeply affected by the appalling actions of certain priests and their church superiors.

It is all the more upsetting that this report covers a period as recent as 1996 to 2009, during which we have learned the Cloyne diocese failed in large measure to comply with the Catholic Church's own 1996 guidelines on clerical child sex abuse.

Despite their assurances to the contrary, their clear focus was on the avoidance of scandal and the preservation of the good name and status of the institution and of the priests. How senior members of the church could in any way have reconciled their consciences with their stealthy suppression of such awful acts against innocents, is impossible to understand.

The report describes how the diocesan authorities handled abuse allegations and were effectively able to ignore the church's own guidelines in respect of the handling of complaints. This failure by the church authorities to follow their own pronouncements and put children first was deeply immoral, shameful and indeed scandalous.

All of these children were human beings entitled to dignity and respect. The perpetrators of the abuse robbed them of their innocence and that entitlement. The church, as an institution, further abused and denied them their dignity when it ignored and covered up their complaints. We saw again in Cloyne, obstruction and obfuscation on the part of the diocesan authorities in dealing with complaints of clerical sexual abuse, and long delays in taking clearly unsuitable priests totally out of ministry.

The careful, conclusive and detailed investigation by Judge Yvonne Murphy and the commission is to be commended, but essentially this report is the victims' vindication. We owe them a deep debt of gratitude and a huge respect for their courageous co-operation with the commission. In breaking their silence and bringing this shameful behaviour into the public domain, they have once again reminded us all of the absolute need to tackle this type of crime and not sweep it under the carpet, as has been the practice in the past.

Because it may not have happened to us personally, or in our own families, does not mean that we should not face it head on as if it had. We have a duty, as a society, to stand up in solidarity with the victims and their families and to deliver the message that child abuse is evil, wrong and will not be tolerated.

The shame and horror of this report must be noted by every citizen of this country, so as to ensure that every one of us puts the protection of children first. Child abuse is, and always has been, a criminal offence. Where the church has failed to deal with it as such, the State will fulfil its obligation to keep its children safe.

I am proud to be a member of a Government party that has shown decisive leadership and has taken swift action in this matter. As the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, pointed out last week, "the time for words alone and political rhetoric is long since gone."

The appropriate authorities to deal with abusers are the Garda Síochána and the courts. No one is above the law of the land. Along with the review of the Cloyne report by the Garda Síochána to see if any further action can be taken against the abusers referred to in it, I am pleased with the development that the Garda Síochána is also setting up a special telephone line which victims of clerical abuse, or anyone who has information about it, can contact.

The establishment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is a clear signal that our young people deserve attention and recognition, and to have their needs prioritised at Cabinet level. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, has received Government approval to place the revised Children First national guidelines on a statutory basis. The intention is to place a statutory obligation on every organisation working with children to protect and safeguard those children when in their care, including statutory, private, community and voluntary organisations.

As the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, mentioned in this House earlier today, he has published the heads of a Bill to place the vetting of persons working with children and vulnerable adults on a statutory basis. This Bill, which will be submitted for drafting with a view to enactment in the autumn, will provide a legislative basis for the existing arrangements. It is legislation that, I am sure, will receive the unanimous support of this House.

These actions are but part of a comprehensive range of measures, which have been outlined by the Government and the Minister, designed to address not only the problem highlighted by the commission's report on Cloyne, but also to provide the foundation for an immeasurably strengthened system of child protection, which is so necessary.

I hope that in some way the publication of this report will help the victims and let them know that they are not alone in their suffering. They have the solidarity and support of all of us, while their abusers are only entitled to our condemnation.

Having read and listened to the stories of victims, it is my sense that the greatest help we can give those truly courageous people is to redouble our efforts to ensure that this will not happen again to other families and other children.

I would like to thank the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, who will reply to the debate, for attending the House to discuss the report with us. I assure them of the support of this House as they continue their essential work in ensuring the safety and protection of children.

I would hope that the amendment that has been tabled will be withdrawn. We had total unanimity in the other House, as should be the case here.