David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)

No Member of the House would choose to have to again discuss a report on child sex abuse in the State; sex abuse carried out by members of the Catholic Church; and the complicity of the institution of the church in what was the rape of children and the cover-up and protecting of paedophiles over and above the children of the State. My generation grew up learning about how children were abused in State care in industrial schools and how priests were moved from one parish to another. Priests, who were essentially paedophiles, were transferred from one village to another village. A paedophile priest is no different to any other paedophile. My generation grew up learning of these horrors but we understood it was not only about the Vatican or the institution that was the Catholic Church, but that the State was also failing in its responsibilities to protect children.

A number of weeks ago, we discussed the abuse of women in Magdalene laundries. There is a long history and legacy of abuse in the State in respect of children. The generation who learned of these horrors and who saw them as something of the past and of a different generation was absolutely outraged to read the Cloyne report which brought the reality of child abuse to as recently as 2009. This was a shock to many people who had hoped the condemnation we had heard from the Vatican and senior representatives of the Catholic Church, the acts of contrition, the promises of change and the guidelines being put in place would lead to better protection of children. Many people are appalled and shocked that this was not the case.

All of the words of condemnation and the acts of contrition, whether by politicians or members of the Catholic Church, will mean nothing if we do not introduce new guidelines and legislation that ensures we protect children. Above and beyond any of this is the need for the Catholic Church in the State to recognise the rights and protection of children must come before the rights and protection of the church. If only it understood that the failure to protect children and their rights is and was undermining the integrity and the future of the church in the State. I hope no future generation of Irish people will be confronted by the horrors of child abuse because of the actions of priests and the failure of the institution that is the church to properly safeguard and protect children.