Gareth Scahill (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for coming in today. I suppose we are all considering this motion with a deep sense of responsibility and with a conviction to support it and the establishment of the commission of investigation into the handling of historical child sexual abuse in day and boarding schools. This is a long-overdue recognition that the education system and the institutions that govern it harboured dark and painful truths. It is a moment that demands honesty, empathy and a firm commitment to justice.

For too long, what happened in these schools remained hidden behind closed doors, protected by silence, by fear and by systems more concerned with reputations than right and wrong. Children, some no older than six or seven, were subjected to acts of unspeakable cruelty and physical, emotional and sexual abuse by adults in positions of authority and trust. Teachers, members of religious orders and caretakers, who should have nurtured and safeguarded these children, instead inflicted lifelong trauma. These were not distant or isolated institutions. These were our local schools. They were embedded in every town, village and parish. The abuse that occurred in them has left scars not only on individuals but on entire communities. The silence around that abuse, the shame, the disbelief and the denial spread across generations. Families were torn apart by what was done to their children and by the burden of not being heard. Survivors were often disbelieved, dismissed and retraumatised by institutions that should have been their source of protection.

This commission of investigation is not only about uncovering what happened; it is about understanding how it was allowed to happen and why it was allowed to continue unchecked for so long. The commission will investigate how schools and those associated with them responded to allegations of concern. It will examine whether reports were made and whether known abusers were quietly transferred to other schools or allowed to continue to access children. Even in my own community, I remember being a 13-year-old schoolboy and our teacher being taken out of the classroom by the gardaí on a particular day. The commission will look at whether the authorities, be it the Department of education, An Garda Síochána or the health services, acted appropriately or turned away. Crucially, it will listen. The commission will include a dedicated survivor engagement programme designed not as a legal forum but as a space where survivors can speak freely without fear of cross-examination and without the weight of having to prove or defend their pain. Let me say clearly that every survivor who wishes to share their experience will be heard.

As we shine a light on these painful truths, we must also be fair and not only in our judgment. It is vital to acknowledge that not every teacher or member of a religious order was complicit in abuse. Many devoted their lives to the care, education and well-being of children in their charge and we must not allow the actions of some to stain the reputations of all. Indeed, many of those who served honourably were as appalled and broken by the silence and inaction as the survivors themselves. At its heart, this commission is not about blame; it is about truth, accountability and healing. It will operate independently, led by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath. It will have the scope, resources and supports it needs to uncover the facts and make clear evidence-based recommendations. Its work will cover a broad timeline from 1927 to 2013, which is 86 years. Importantly, it will not be limited to schools run by the religious orders. All day and boarding schools are within its remit because safeguarding and justice must not be selective.

I welcome the Government's commitment to begin this work without delay. Survivors have waited long enough. While the complex issue of redress is still under active consideration, this will not prevent the commission from moving forward. Let me also stress that the work of the commission is not simply about the past; it is about our present and our future because if we are serious about protecting children today, we must understand where we failed them yesterday. We must learn from those failures, not only in policy and procedure but also in culture and attitude. We must build a society where safeguarding is not a box-ticking exercise, but a deeply embedded moral obligation where children are believed, transparency is the standard and silence is no longer the shield of the powerful. We must ensure that survivors, those who were let down so gravely by the State, by religious institutions, by schools and by society itself, are at the centre of this process. Their bravery, in coming forward and speaking out, has brought us to this point. We owe them more than words. We owe them our actions.

This is one of the most difficult, but necessary, conversations this State must have. In passing this motion, we acknowledge the pain and injustice of the past but we also commit ourselves to a future that is more honest, more just and more compassionate. I commend the motion and I offer my full support to the work going ahead. May this commission bring light and truth, healing to survivors and lasting change to the way we care for and protect our children.