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The following is the text of the all-party motion being debated this afternoon, in which Dáil Éireann condemns the Vatican for undermining Ireland’s child protection systems in the Diocese of Cloyne.

That Dáil Éireann:

• notes the publication of the report by the Commission of Investigation into the handling by Church and State authorities of allegations and suspicions of child sexual abuse against clerics of the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne;
• expresses its sympathy with the victims whose suffering is set out in the report
• expresses its thanks to the Commission of Investigation for their work carried out with sensitivity
• expresses its dismay at the disturbing findings of the report and at the inadequate and inappropriate response, particularly of the Church authorities in Cloyne, to complaints and allegations of child sexual abuse
• deplores the Vatican’s intervention which contributed to the undermining of the child protection frameworks and guidelines of the Irish State and the Irish bishops
• welcomes the publication of the Children First National Guidance 2011, the full and consistent implementation of which will be given priority, and welcomes the approval by Government for the preparation of legislation to require statutory compliance with the Children First National Guidance
• acknowledges that child protection requires a cross-societal awareness and a purposeful co-operative response from all organisations working with children
• welcomes the publication of the provisions concerning the Criminal Justice (Withholding Information on Crimes against Children and Vulnerable Adults) Bill 2011 and welcomes the announcement made that the heads of the National Vetting Bureau Bill 2011 will be published by the end of July 2011 and furnished to the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality for a consultative process; and
• affirms its determination that the State will take all necessary measures to protect its children.

- An Taoiseach, an Tánaiste agus Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála, Micheál Martin, Gerry Adams, Catherine Murphy

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