Shane Curley (Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a bheith sa Teach seo inniu. This afternoon's discussion centres around possibly the most sinister acts of evil that were ever carried out on this island; preying physically and sexually on vulnerable children who had their innocence stolen from them and, in many cases, the rest of their lives destroyed. I am conscious of the words of Senator Boyhan in our previous discussion on the industrial and reformatory schools that we remember not every teacher and member of the clergy is or was an inherently bad person. Many of them make a real impact in their communities and are genuinely good people. That said, the dark actions of some leave a lasting legacy of damage and hurt that we must address.

Today's announcement by the Minister of a commission of investigation into the handling of historical sexual abuse in all day and boarding schools marks a significant moment for our State. Fianna Fáil fully supports the establishment of this commission, which will be chaired by Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath. We welcome the Government's decision to accept in full the primary recommendations of the scoping inquiry. This commission will have the authority and independence required to examine how allegations, suspicions and concerns of abuse were handled in Irish schools. Importantly, it will look not only at boarding schools but also day schools and will include both primary and post-primary sectors.

The revelations from the scoping inquiry were devastating. We now know that more than 2,300 allegations were made, involving 884 alleged abusers across 308 schools between 1927 and 2013. It is hard to comprehend the scale of harm done - not only the physical and sexual abuse, but the trauma too; the mental scars that haunt people for the rest of their lives from the damage done to them by those who should have been building them up and equipping them with the social and academic skills to live a fulfilling life and the trauma of not being believed and being told to keep your mouth shut. The survivors who came forward have shown extraordinary courage. They were failed once by the institutions and by the State but we must not fail them again. Their voices informed the scoping inquiry's findings. Their testimonies helped shaped the terms of reference for the commission and it is their instance on truth and accountability that has brought us to this point. I want to pay tribute to every survivor who spoke up. Their advocacy was instrumental in making this commission a reality.

The commission will now begin its preliminary work. It will include a survivor engagement programme, something that is both welcome and necessary. Survivors must not be sidelined in this process - they must be at the centre. It is their experience, their questions and their right to the truth that must guide this work. I am confident that Mr. Justice MacGrath, with his judicial experience and commitment to public service, will carry out this role with the independence and compassion that survivors deserve. As Fianna Fáíl's Seanad spokesperson on education, I know the damage caused by abuse in schools runs deep; emotionally, psychologically and socially. It affects not only the individuals but their entire families, communities and generations. Many of the schools implicated were not hidden or remote institutions. They were part of the fabric of Irish life. They were schools in every town and every county. This was not some distant tragedy. It is our collective history and we must confront it honestly.

I welcome the Government's commitment to examining financial redress. For many survivors, financial compensation is not about money. It is about recognition and accountability. They want those responsible for running the schools where abuse occurred to contribute to redress. They want a clear message that this State will not just listen and apologise but act. That is why I believe it is right that all possible funding levers are examined in parallel with the commission's work. Redress must not be delayed. We must ensure this process does not become bogged down in bureaucracy or drawn-out legal wrangling. Time is not on the side of many of the survivors.

Equally important is the State's commitment to continue development of child protection. While the scoping inquiry found our current systems to be robust, we cannot afford complacency. Safeguarding must remain a living practice in our schools. Survivors told the inquiry their greatest hope is that no child ever endures what they did. That must be our priority. My own experience as a teacher was that some parents treated teachers with suspicion and scepticism. That comes from that desire to make sure it never happens again. That distrust and general scepticism towards teachers from some people who have every right to feel that way is a lasting legacy of our education system. I also support the recommendations regarding commemoration and memorialisation. Survivors have asked their experience not be hidden away in archives or reports but remembered openly. Memorials, education materials and public acknowledgements are essential tools of healing. This commission is not a box-ticking exercise. It is not about avoiding difficult truths. It is about shining a light on what happened, why it was allowed to happen and what we must now do to ensure it never happens again.

There are still survivors waiting for answers. There are still survivors who have never come forward and who carry their stories in silence. To them I say; you matter too, you are believed and you are not alone. Today, we honour the bravery of those who spoke out, demanded action and who never gave up. This commission of investigation is a vital step forward for justice but it cannot be the last step. It must lead to real accountability, proper redress, meaningful commemoration and a future where our education system protects and builds up every child and upholds the dignity of every human being.