Senator Bacik Requests Debate on Cloyne Report, and on Church and State

Order of Business

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik: Like Senator O'Brien, I welcome the news of the agreement between France and Germany. We all wish the Government well in its negotiations at today's EU meeting. It would be in all our interests to see, even at this stage, a reduction in the interest rate being charged to Ireland. I am sure Opposition Members would agree with me in respect of that matter.

I know others have already done so but I wish to request a debate on the Cloyne report. That debate should take place as soon as possible. In that context, I compliment the Taoiseach on his contribution on the motion on the Cloyne report in the Dáil yesterday. His speech rightly made headlines and is being discussed everywhere today. The Taoiseach's contribution to the debate on this matter has been described as a landmark and as representing an unprecedented critique of the Vatican and of church structures in Ireland.

When one considers the findings in the Cloyne report, it is clear that the Taoiseach's comments are entirely justified. The report has proved to be of a different order to the Murphy and Ryan reports, which, in their content, were also shocking. The Cloyne report is different because, as the Taoiseach stated, for the first time in this country “a report on child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago”. Across Ireland, there is immense anger and outrage that this has been the case.

As the Taoiseach stated, we are awaiting the considered response of the Vatican to the Cloyne report. However, he also stated that this is no longer “industrial school or Magdalene Ireland, where the swish of a soutane, smothered conscience and humanity and the swing of a thurible ruled the Irish Catholic world”. He further pointed out that in this Republic of Ireland in 2011 “rights and responsibilities and proper civic order where the delinquency and arrogance of a particular version of a particular kind of morality will no longer be tolerated or ignored”. The Taoiseach spoke with passion and I compliment him on that. As he stated, it was difficult for him, as a practising Catholic, to do so.

In light of what the Taoiseach said yesterday, there is a need to examine the structures of our State. We must consider putting the State in order and we must also ensure that the structures in the Oireachtas are appropriate to those of a modern republic. In that context, I intend to propose at today's meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that we end the practice of saying a Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings each day in the Seanad. I will propose an amendment to Standing Order 18 to provide instead for a moment or a few minutes of silent reflection in order that each Senator, in accordance with his or her own conscience and preference-----

Senator Darragh O'Brien: On a point of order, that is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Senator Ivana Bacik: I am raising this matter in the context of a debate on the church and the State. The saying of a prayer each day was also raised in the Dáil last week by Deputy Ó Riordáin of the Labour Party. He and I have both ensured that this matter is on the agendas of the Committees of Procedure and Privileges of the Dáil and the Seanad.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: I understand this matter is on the agenda of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges and that it will be dealt with by that committee.

Senator Ivana Bacik: Yes, that is the position. However, it is a matter for the entire membership of the House to consider whether it is appropriate in a modern republic and whether it is respectful to those who are not of a Christian religion, to continue to say a Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings each day in the House.