Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

There have been clear and serious problems with the way it has been rolled out and it is important that the Cabinet moves swiftly in this regard. I asked for the Minister to come to the House on foot of colleagues' requests yesterday, and I understand his office has responded and that the Leader will deal with the issue. I am glad of this because I think we can have a good debate on how the matter has developed since we debated, at great length, the Water Services Bill 2013.

On the Maíria Cahill case, as Senator Darragh O'Brien noted, I indicated yesterday that we should have a debate generally on the issue of cover ups and how allegations and statements about sexual abuse are treated within institutions. That would be an important debate. Senators Darragh O'Brien and van Turnhout dealt with the matter very sensitively when they first raised it but it was unfortunate that Senator Cullinane employed a different style of contribution.

It is a very serious matter and I am glad the Taoiseach is meeting Ms Cahill today and that the Tánaiste met her last week. I understand the matter will be discussed in the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality but Senator Darragh O'Brien raised a very serious issue about the way in which abusers were dealt with by Sinn Féin-IRA and, in particular, the allegations we are hearing in respect not only of Ms Cahill but also other victims of abuse, whereby abusers were sent away. That was the way in which Sinn Féin-IRA dealt with them.

We have developed careful structures to ensure that abusers are not sent onwards to carry out further abuse in other areas. We have seen in the past how, tragically, abusers like Brendan Smith were moved from parish to parish and jurisdiction to jurisdiction, abusing children wherever they went. There is a huge issue of child protection that Sinn Féin-IRA have not addressed. This is not ancient history. The abuse Ms Cahill described happened to her in the late 1990s and the interrogations she credibly claims were carried out by the IRA also happened in the late 1990s. This case raises very serious political and legal questions about child protection.

I welcome that Trinity College Dublin is launching its five-year strategic plan for the period from 2015 to 2019. I am glad that the rebranding proposals have been dropped. A number of very controversial proposals had been made on a new crest and name for the university but they met with considerable resistance from staff, students and alumni. There is substance to the strategic plan, including in particular ambitious targets for new buildings, developing research potential and building links with international students and colleges. I wish the college well with its strategic plan, which is launched today.