Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

Why did observant Catholics in the Civil Service, in the Department of Education and elsewhere, feel so compelled that, in some cases, they were not prepared to act? This has been speculated on because we can only imagine. I am not quoting any document or evidence. Why was there an atmosphere such that, when the Garda Commissioner communicated with the late Dr. Charles McQuaid about suspicions of abuse, the file was left sitting there? In so many other cases, there was a sense of self-censorship for whatever motivation or reason.