Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

Senators O'Keeffe, Norris, Keane, Daly, Moran, MacSharry and others spoke about the BBC2 programme about child abuse broadcast last night. I, too, viewed it. The fact that families of other victims were not told about the danger of Father Smyth was appalling. The abuse of children continued for years after the investigations mentioned in the programme, which is very damning. This abuse could have been prevented if action had been taken, but this did not happen.

Calls were made for a debate on church and State. We can do that but, as was stated by some Senators, yesterday we had the beginning of that debate with the Minister for Education and Skills in regard to schools.