Religious orders that ran schools implicated in child sexual abuse should “step up” and commit to a redress scheme, the Taoiseach has said.
While welcoming “statements of regret” from institutions, Simon Harris said they will be “hollow words” without further action.
It follows the release of a 700-page report into allegations of historical sexual abuse at some schools yesterday, containing over 2,400 allegations and involving 884 alleged abusers.
Speaking in Ukraine this evening, Mr Harris said of a potential redress for survivors that others “will have to step up here.”
“[That includes] those who allowed this abuse to be carried out, those who carried out the abuse and I think that's really important,” he said.
“I welcome statements of regret and sorrow and I don't doubt the bona fides of any order.
"It's better to have those statements than not but they will be hollow words if they're just statements saying, ‘We're sorry.’
“The reality is, Maria O’Tool SC has looked at this and has said there is going to be a requirement for redress and [she] has also said that orders need to step up too.”
'Harrowing' report
The Taoiseach described yesterday’s report as “harrowing.”
“But it's also documentary evidence of childhoods robbed and futures paused or, in some cases, destroyed,” he said.
“An omerta seems to exist that now means we're dealing with a scenario where potentially many perpetrators may have passed away and indeed, many victims of abuse may also be deceased.
“So, this is a moment for people to prove that, you know, Christianity and all they do, including their actions, in terms of how they respond to this.”
Dublin Airport passenger cap
Mr Harris also said he’s open to ideas for a solution to issues around a potential breach of Dublin Airport's 32 million annual passenger cap.
“We live on an island, and we’re terribly dependent on aviation,” he said.
“It's absolutely important that we have a clear strategic understanding around the role of Dublin Airport and indeed, other airports on our island.
“It’s clear many organisations, including the DAA, in the past, took their eye off the ball in relation to this and now we've ended up with this peculiar construct where such strategic decisions are now matters for planning authorities almost exclusively.
“I can't interfere in the planning process and I don't want to say anything to cut across that—but I'm open for business in terms of hearing ideas.”
The Taoiseach added that it would be more beneficial for people to “send forward solutions” to the passenger cap issue, rather than “telling people how challenging” the situation is.
Main image: The Taoiseach Simon Harris in the Courtyard at Government Buildings, 07-08-2024. Image: Leah Farrell/RollingNews
