Helen McEntee
Meath East · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are no new missions, so there is only so much we can partake in. In regard to UN requests over the past ten years, in September 2019, we had 14 Defence Forces personnel deployed to a UN mission in Mali as part of a joint operation with the German armed forces.”
“I thank the Deputy for his continued engagement on this matter. It is appreciated and I reaffirm our shared commitment to truth and justice, not least for Private Rooney, but in particular for his family.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I know he is committed to this issue; I am too. I have in recent months spent some time travelling to different barracks and Army bases and meeting with personnel. What I see all over the country is their professionalism, dedication and commitment.”
“I disagree that people are being pushed into the courts. The situation is exactly the opposite. I have said in the Chamber many times since I started taking these questions that the State Claims Agency is there and wants to mediate and work directly with people in order that cases do not go directly to the courts.”
“We are all committed to strengthening recruitment to and supporting retention in the Permanent Defence Force. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,823 personnel on 31 May, the most recent date for which we have a figure available.”
“It is the case that no mission is the same, so it is also a matter for the Defence Forces to assess and scope out the mission and then to decide whether it is a mission we can partake in. A question keeps being asked about what it is we would not be able to be a part of if we were to keep the triple lock.”
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“On engagement on memorialisation, something that came through clearly on the scoping inquiry is that there is not a clear agreed position on what memorialisation would look like but it is so important that we never forget what has happened here. This commission will allow us to look again at how we can ensure that happens. The recommendations also relate to supports for survivors throughout the commission's work and further strengthening child protection in schools. I note that the scoping inquiry found that the current child protection systems in our schools are effective. My Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. However, I am aware that more can always be done.”
“I emphasise that this work will happen in parallel to the work of the commission. It is vital that the work of the commission proceeds without undue delay. That is why the Government has approved the establishment of the commission now, as the other work continues in parallel. The Government has also accepted further recommendations of the scoping inquiry. These relate to the experiences of victims of sexual violence in the criminal justice system. The zero-tolerance strategy is a whole-of-government approach to combating domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, with a very clear focus on how we can improve not just the justice system but the entire system to support victims of sexual violence.”
“Any scheme must be funded by those who ran the schools where the abuse occurred. To be clear: all potential mechanisms that can be brought to bear to secure the funding from those responsible for sexual abuse in schools must be considered, and they will be considered. This work will include looking at potential changes to the Statute of Limitations for civil claims, changes to the status of unincorporated associations, examining the assets of the relevant religious orders and other bodies with responsibility for running schools, as well as other options. I fully recognise how important redress is for survivors as a measure of accountability for what they experienced as children and the lifelong impact it has had for them and their families also. This is why more work, and more analysis is required regarding financial redress.”
“When the commission has the necessary arrangements in place to begin its engagement with survivors, that will be widely advertised to ensure that as many people as possible are aware that the commission is doing its work and that they can contribute to it and be part of it if they so wish. The scoping inquiry made a number of other recommendations, and 13 of its 14 recommendations have now been accepted. The area of redress is extremely important for survivors not just to ensure that the institutions and religious orders responsible for the schools where child sexual abuse occurred are held accountable, but that they are also held financially accountable. The report of the interdepartmental group advises that more work must be undertaken on any potential scheme.”
“I emphasise that the terms of reference for the commission explicitly require it to promote support for those with additional needs to facilitate an accessible and inclusive process wherever possible. The scoping inquiry highlighted the devastating extent of allegations of sexual abuse in special schools, and it is critical that all reasonable efforts are made to ensure that this process is accessible from the outset, in all aspects of its work. The commission is independent and will begin its work in the coming months. An initial period of consultation with survivors and other stakeholders, including those in the disability and additional needs sector, will be an important part of that work, in advance of a national survey as set out in the terms of reference.”
“This reflects the views of survivors expressed in the scoping inquiry report that any process would need to accommodate survivors who cannot, or who do not wish for whatever reason, to speak publicly about what happened to them. The survivor engagement programme is one element of an overall survivor-centred and trauma-informed approach for the commission. This will include consultation and clear communication with survivors, training for the commission's team in working with those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, and implementing practical steps to minimise risks of retraumatisation. While implementing these measures will be a matter for the commission itself, I know that this is of great importance to Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath.”
“It is something it does not have to do but may choose to do depending on who comes forward and what information is available. It is important to state that the commission will also have a survivor engagement programme that will run parallel to its formal investigation. All survivors who wish to provide an account of their experiences to the commission will have the opportunity to do so through this programme. I emphasise that the survivor engagement programme is non-adversarial, and survivors will be able to provide their account in private, in a supportive environment without cross-examination. The survivor engagement programme can also hear from a relative of a deceased survivor, and it is completely anonymous.”
“The commission will conduct an initial national survey as it seeks to establish the potential volume of witnesses and evidence that may be available to support its investigations. It will then select samples for detailed investigation, informed by what survivors relate to it in the national survey. The commission may consider child sexual abuse in schools between 1927 and 2013 in its report. The commission has the power to reduce the time period under investigation as it considers appropriate, depending on available evidence, and this will allow it to concentrate on periods of time that may provide answers for more of the survivors who come forward in the national survey. That is very much at the discretion of the commission.”
“Within the first two years, the chair is required to confirm his belief that this is achievable, or to propose any modifications that may be required to facilitate completion within five years. I want to be clear on that point: this is not an opportunity for the chair to seek an extension, it is an opportunity for him to set out whether it is feasible to complete the work within five years. If it is not, the commissioner will have to change the way they are working so the five-year deadline can be met. Survivors have been clear that they want to see outcomes in their lifetime, and I am absolutely committed to making sure that this happens. To that end, the scoping inquiry's recommendation that the commission adopts a sampling approach is provided for in the terms of reference.”
“These include: actions taken or not taken where concerns of child sexual abuse arose; failure to prevent harm to children where concerns of child sexual abuse arose; failure to report concerns to the appropriate authorities; concealment of child sexual abuse; whether laws and guidelines were followed; whether persons suspected of child sexual abuse were permitted to have access to children, or moved to other locations or institutions; whether there were co-ordinated actions with regard to child sexual abuse; and the approach taken toward criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. A core priority for survivors is the need to see this process conducted efficiently and in a timely manner. That is why the terms of reference require that the commission completes its work within five years.”
“Survivors want to know why child sexual abuse was so prevalent in some schools and contexts, why it happened and why it went on for so long. As a society, we need to understand the impact of child sexual abuse in schools and, crucially, we need to learn for the future. A common wish for many survivors is that they want to be sure that what they endured can never happen again. The commission will investigate matters of critical importance to survivors, as they so eloquently described to the scoping inquiry.”
“It will examine the causes and responsibilities for those failures and, importantly, it will have the power to compel witnesses and documents, which was a key concern for survivors who participated in the scoping inquiry. Schools, persons and entities responsible for, and associated with schools, An Garda Síochána, the HSE and its predecessor and successor organisations and the Department of Education fall within the ambit of the commission's terms of reference. While I expect voluntary co-operation from any group or entity that the commission wishes to engage with, I note that the scoping inquiry reported that it had received positive engagement. I want to emphasise, however, that such co-operation is required and it is enforceable.”
“Since the report was published, many others have come forward for the very first time, whether to support agencies or to report what happened to them to An Garda Síochána. Through their harrowing accounts of their own experience, the scoping inquiry participants have paved a path for others who may now choose to tell their stories to the commission. The commission will have a remit to examine the handling of sexual abuse in all types of schools. This wish was expressed by many survivors, and it is one I strongly support. I know that many others do as well. The commission will investigate concerns of child sexual abuse and failures to treat such concerns in a manner that protected children.”
“That shame and guilt do not belong to the survivors; it belongs to those responsible for child sexual abuse in schools. What is clear from the scoping inquiry is that survivors want accountability. They deserve accountability. The establishment of the commission represents the Government's commitment to a serious response, in which we seek to understand the past so as to inform the here and now as well as the future. The terms of reference of the commission have been prepared by the interdepartmental group and they closely reflect the recommendations of the scoping inquiry. Crucially, at every step, the work of the interdepartmental group was centrally informed by the views of survivors, expressed so powerfully in the scoping inquiry's extensive survivor engagement consultation process.”
“The scoping inquiry's report sets out not just the devastating accounts of the sexual abuse that participants experienced as children, but the impact on their education, the loss of opportunity in school and the often lifelong impact on relationships, employment and their sense of self. Participants' accounts of there being no place or sense of safety in their schools represents the most egregious breach of trust by those responsible for running those schools. Some participants spoke of loss of community, childhood, faith, family and even country, as the aftermath of what they experienced trickled through every facet of their life. Others spoke of the difficulty in telling anyone what had happened, and a deep sense of shame and guilt.”
“The Government immediately accepted the primary recommendation of the scoping inquiry, which was to establish a commission of investigation. To date, it has accepted 13 of the 14 recommendations of the scoping inquiry. Several of the recommendations relate to the remit and operation of the commission of investigation. The Government has agreed to appoint Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath, an eminent judge of the Court of Appeal, as chair of the commission. Mr. Justice MacGrath brings considerable experience to this role, having been appointed a judge of the High Court in January 2018, and appointed to the Court of Appeal in June 2024. I again thank him for agreeing to carry out this very important work. He will be assisted in the work by a number of commissioners and a support team.”
“It recommended that the commission should examine the handling of allegations and concerns of child sexual abuse in schools and that its remit should be broadened to include all schools. It recommended that the commission should include a survivor engagement programme and that it should take a survivor-centred and trauma-informed approach. It recommended that the commission should include a survivor engagement programme and that it should take a survivor-centred and trauma-informed approach. The report of the scoping inquiry was published on 3 September 2024. A high-level interdepartmental group, IDG, was immediately established to advise the Government on the recommendations of the scoping inquiry and to prepare draft terms of reference for the commission of investigation.”
“So many survivors of historical child sexual abuse did not have a voice. Some could not say what had happened; others were not heard or believed. The scoping inquiry's survivor engagement process entailed a distinctive approach, providing each participant with the opportunity to tell the scoping inquiry about their experiences and what they wanted to see happen next, in a safe environment. As many will recall, the scoping inquiry was told of 2,395 allegations of historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders, involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools across the country between 1927 and 2013. Devastatingly, a considerable number of those allegations related to special schools. The scoping inquiry made 14 recommendations informed by the views of survivors, including the establishment of a commission of investigation.”
“As a result of the revelations that followed the Ryan brothers' courageous disclosure of their own experiences of sexual abuse in schools, the Government established a scoping inquiry into historical sexual abuse in day and boarding schools run by religious orders. The scoping inquiry was independently led. I acknowledge the work of Mary O'Toole, who carried out the scoping inquiry, and indeed my ministerial predecessor, Deputy Norma Foley, for all her work in this area. A trauma-informed survivor engagement process was central to the scoping inquiry, and this saw survivors consulted widely on what they considered should be included in a Government response to historical sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders. I commend the scoping inquiry team for undertaking this sensitive work with great care and compassion.”
“Of course, this is not the first time that the State has had to confront an appalling legacy of child abuse and the need to inquire into past failings. We have had such discussions here only in recently weeks. The Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse published its final report in May 2009, revealing the extent of abuse suffered by thousands of children in residential institutions managed by religious congregations. Those shocking revelations of historical abuse in institutional settings forced us to confront a dark chapter of our past. Now we are faced with revelations of widespread and often brazen historical sexual abuse of children in day and boarding schools. Once again, we must confront a painful and shameful history as we seek to lance this national wound.”
“I welcome the opportunity to introduce this motion to the House. I acknowledge the survivors whose courage and commitment have brought us to this point. I sincerely thank every single survivor for their bravery, whether they were in a position to come forward or not. In particular, I thank the late Mark Ryan and his brother David, who joined us yesterday in the Houses. I acknowledge the many survivors of historical sexual abuse in schools who told their stories in the years before Mark and David came forward and the hundreds who have come forward since the RTÉ radio documentary "Blackrock Boys" was aired in November 2022. The Ryan brothers and the many others who came forward to disclose their experiences of historical child sexual abuse in schools have had a central role in the developments that have brought us here today.”
“I particularly thank David, who is here in the Gallery, and his brother Mark, who cannot be with us here today. Without his and David's brave words and actions, we would not be establishing this commission of investigation and so many others would not have the chance to make sure their voices and stories are heard. Most importantly, as a Government and as a society, due to those actions, we now have an opportunity to do everything we can to ensure something like this can never happen in our schools again. I thank my colleagues and look forward to working with them. I wish the commission well in its work.”
“It is really important for any person who comes forward who does not want to be known and wants his or her contribution to be anonymous that we do not in any way link the programme and the commission by saying that people who come forward will be part of the inquiry. It is really important that survivors can participate in the survivor engagement process in a confidential way. The information that will be provided will feed into and will be part of the overall objective and overall approach taken by the commission. I thank colleagues for their contributions and support on the establishment of this commission of investigation. I will finish how I started, through commending and thanking survivors, because we would not be here without them.”
“Making sure the process is victim-centred and human rights-focused has been a priority for the Attorney General and for all of us involved. In terms of memorialisation, the scoping inquiry found that there was no one agreed position as to how we ensure that what happened in the past would not be forgotten. The work of the commission will assist in that by feeding into what memorialisation looks like in the future. Members raised the fact that the commission may consider information from the survivor engagement programme and the fact that this should be part and parcel of the investigation.”
“The terms of reference are very clear that there will be: (a) clear communication and transparency, allowing survivors to make informed choices as to whether to engage with the Commission; (b) support for survivors at key stages of the process, [that means] emotional and psychological support, and support for those with additional needs to facilitate an accessible and inclusive process wherever possible; [...] (d) practical steps to mitigate risks of retraumatisation, [as was raised by our colleagues in the Labour Party] in consultation with survivors and relevant expert advice. It is very clear, and having engaged with the chairperson, he is clear that any engagement will be accessible to every single person. I stress that all of these terms of reference have been developed with the support of the Attorney General.”
“I echo the Minister of State's words on the importance of inclusivity in the commission and ensuring that the voices of those who may not have been heard are facilitated. Many colleagues have raised the issue of making sure that every single person can have access to this commission of inquiry, whether it is the initial survey that will be done in the coming months, the engagement through the survivor engagement programme or through the inquiry itself.”
“In other instances, redress schemes have not happened until after a commission of investigation has taken place. I want this work to start now in order that we are not waiting five years before we even start looking at a redress scheme. They will happen in parallel. I am committed, as I think all colleagues in this House are, to working toward making sure those who are responsible pay financially. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, made specific mention of the findings of the scoping inquiry regarding the sexual abuse of children in special schools. It was such an egregious breach of trust among some of our most vulnerable citizens and was absolutely abhorrent.”
“That is why we have not accepted that specific recommendation to allow it to progress immediately with the commission of investigation. More work is needed to understand exactly what assets are being held by religious orders and institutions, including financial resources and other resources. This work is also needed to understand if there are other mechanisms and levers that are needed to make sure that those responsible for these types of crimes are the ones who pay toward a redress scheme. There was a very clear request by many of the survivors that the institutions, religious orders and those responsible for these crimes and for covering them up be the ones who pay for it. That is why this separate body of work is happening. I am really clear here.”
“That is not in any way to diminish or to not respond to the very serious challenges and the very serious crimes that were committed where children were brutally and viciously assaulted. The terms of reference have been very clear that if we are to get the answers survivors are absolutely entitled to within a time period that is acceptable to anybody here, then we need to stick within those terms of reference. The commission is a significant step towards accountability. I acknowledge that this is a long journey for many, but further work is being done in parallel as regards redress. Colleagues raised the issue of redress. I am determined that there will be financial accountability for survivors. In response to that, however, we need to do more work in order for survivors to get the accountability to which they are entitled.”
“We are very clear on that and that is why the terms of reference set out very clearly that this must be completed within a five-year period. The following might help or assist in answering the question on physical abuse and why it was not included. I absolutely acknowledge the physical abuse people suffered in our schools - the criminal acts that happened in our schools. This cannot be under the banner of corporal punishment. There were people physically assaulted and brutally assaulted in our schools. So often that came hand in hand with sexual abuse. However, the scoping inquiry was clear in its remit that it needed to look at sexual abuse in our schools. It was very clear that if we were to get the answers survivors are absolutely entitled to, we must stick within that remit.”
“I understand this has been a very difficult and very long journey for many people. There are those who are not here to see us get to this point. That is why it is so important we have a time limit on this. I want to stress that any suggestion the two-year report is an opportunity for the commission to come forward to say it needs more time and wants to extend it, and that it can do so on multiple occasions, is the reason we are putting a five-year limit on this. What must be set out clearly in the two-year report is that if the commission feels it is not on track for the five years, it must amend its work to make sure it comes in within that five-year period. We cannot have a situation where survivors, who have waited decades in some instances to get to this point, are left waiting further decades or further years.”
“What we will explore here, and what we will report on, is the handling of concerns of historical sexual abuse because we know this happened. We do not have to debate in this Chamber whether sexual abuse happened in our schools. It happened. What we have to investigate here is why happened, how did it happen, how was it let happen for so long, how did those who were in positions of power allow this to happen, what did they know, when did they know it, why did they not respond, why was their response not to go to An Garda Síochána or to anybody else and why was their response to move people from one school to the next, so they could continue this horrific sexual abuse. We have to make sure all of this information is known and is reported on by the commission of investigation.”
“10 of the terms of reference, it states that the commission will exercise its discretion regarding ongoing procedures. It will meet its obligations regarding reporting of information to appropriate authorities. Already the cases that arose in the survivor engagement process have been referred to Tusla and An Garda Síochána for further review where necessary. I know from my previous role and from speaking to the Garda Commissioner that in respect of the work published last September, many more people came forward to the Garda. The work here will never interfere with or prevent survivors from going to the Garda and will never prevent the Garda from ensuring, through the courts, those responsible can be held accountable.”
“It is our duty as adults to protect, to care for, to nurture and to shelter children and it is our duty as legislators to respond. That is what this commission is intended to do. It is so important we ensure the power to compel witnesses and to compel documents is part of the terms of reference and the commission's work, so we get the answers we all need to see. The commission will investigate the handling of concerns of child sexual abuse. It is important to say there will be findings of fact. We are not trying to replace a court of law. We are not trying to replace the work of An Garda Síochána but there will be very clear findings here into the handling of concerns of historical child sexual abuse. There were many questions from colleagues on the Garda and its work. If we look at No.”
“It is so important that our response is clear, strong and acknowledges what happened in the past but it is important that we collectively commit to doing everything we possibly can to ensure it can never happen again. The abuse, and the sexual abuse of a child, is the most egregious breach of trust we can think of. I am not sure words can describe this happening to a child. It is the most difficult type of crime for us to respond to and for it to happen in a setting where children should be safe, where children should be protected and where children should be cared for by those who are in positions of power requires the most serious response from Government - one that learns from the past and improves for the future.”
“I thank all Deputies. Over the past number of hours, many Deputies contributed to the debate on this motion and I want to acknowledge the constructive way in which they engaged and the input from all sides in assisting our deliberation and consideration of this motion on such a sensitive issue. It is important to see such strong support for making sure that accountability, which is rightly sought by survivors via the commission of investigation, is delivered. This is an issue of profound importance to our society. This is an issue that impacts every single person, whether you are an individual who has experienced sexual abuse or whether you are somebody who has children, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews going to school.”
“Mark left an immeasurable legacy, and I know from having met with David, that he is utterly determined to continue what they started together. I want to say to him here today and to the countless other survivors, I am truly sorry for what was done to you and for the devastating impact it had on your lives. I thank each and every person impacted for their bravery. I commend this motion to the House.”
“I acknowledge that there is a strong culture of child protection in schools and the vital role played by our school communities in that regard. Many of the survivors who came forward to the scoping inquiry explained they felt compelled to do so because of their need to ensure that what they endured would not happen to another child. Their greatest priority was often to ensure that lessons would be learned to ensure the ongoing safety of children in schools going forward. I commend, acknowledge and thank survivors for that. Today is an important day - I know it is a challenging and difficult day for many - for all those who experienced the devastation of child sexual abuse in our schools. Again, I recognise Mark and David Ryan, and the service they have done.”
“The procedures were updated in August 2023 and the Department has continued to implement the recommendations contained in the review, which included the publication of the updated child protection procedures for schools which was published in May of this year. The obligations and responsibilities which arise from the procedures have been taken very seriously by schools since their introduction. However, more can always be done and my Department is establishing a child protection in schools group, as recommended by the report of the scoping inquiry, to further strengthen those robust systems. This group will deal with overarching child protection policy and will provide updates as required to the commission of investigation in the course of its work, in relation to child protection in schools.”
“My Department takes child protection very seriously and considers that the protection and welfare of children is a fundamental responsibility of all involved in the care and education of children. In 2021, the Department engaged an independent reviewer to carry out a high-level independent review of the Department of education's current child protection policies and processes. The review examined the policies and procedures the Department has in place for the protection and safeguarding of children and young people. The aim of the review was to identify any existing or potential gaps, risks or areas for improvement, and to make recommendations for improvements both short and long.”
“What is clear from the scoping inquiry is that there was no one agreed view as to what memorialisation should look like. Engaging with survivors on how we bring that forward and on how we ensure there is a memorialisation at the end of this will be a focus of the commission. Supports for survivors throughout the commission’s work is key, and I give that commitment to those who come forward that there will be supports throughout this process. We will make sure it is trauma-informed and survivor-centred at all times. Finally, as to recommendations regarding further strengthening of child protection in schools, it is important to note that the scoping inquiry found that the current child protection systems in our schools are effective.”
“I emphasise that this work will happen in parallel to the work of the commission and that it is vital that the work of the commission proceeds without undue delay. That is why Government has approved the establishment of the commission now, as the other work continues. It will not be delayed. The Government has also accepted further recommendations of the scoping inquiry. These relate to the experiences of victims and survivors of sexual violence in the criminal justice system. As colleagues will be aware, the zero-tolerance strategy is a whole-of-government strategy, with a clear focus on how we can improve the criminal justice system and support and encourage survivors to come forward. We also had engagement on the memorialisation.”
“Let me be very clear: all potential mechanisms that can be brought to bear to secure the funding from those responsible for sexual abuse in schools must be considered and it will be. This work will include looking at potential changes to the statute of limitations for civil claims, changes to the status of unincorporated associations and examining the assets of the relevant religious orders and other bodies with responsibility for running schools. I fully recognise how important redress is for survivors as a measure of accountability for what they experienced as children and the lifelong impact it has had for so many. This is why more work and more analysis is required regarding financial redress.”
“When the commission has the necessary arrangements in place to begin its engagement with survivors, that will be widely advertised to ensure that as many people as possible know that they can contribute, they can come forward and they can engage with the commission. The scoping inquiry made a number of other recommendations, and 13 of its 14 recommendations have now been accepted by Government. The area of redress, as I am so aware, is important for survivors, to ensure that the institutions and religious orders responsible for the schools where child sexual abuse occurred are held accountable, including financially. The report of the interdepartmental group advises that more work must be undertaken on any potential scheme. Any scheme must be funded by those who ran the schools where this abuse occurred.”
“This will include consultation and clear communication with survivors, training for the commission's team in working with those who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, and implementing practical steps to minimise risks of retraumatisation. While implementing these measures will be a matter for the commission itself, I know that this in particular is of great importance to Mr. Justice Michael MacGrath. The commission is independent and will begin its work in the coming months. An initial period of consultation with survivors and other stakeholders will be an important part of that work, in advance of a national survey as set out in the terms of reference.”
“This reflects the views of survivors expressed in the scoping inquiry report that any process would need to accommodate survivors who cannot, or who do not wish for whatever reason, to speak publicly about what happened to them. The survivor engagement programme will not only help the commission in its work, but I believe it will contribute to our national understanding of what happened in our schools and allow us to learn lessons for the future. The work of the commission will, at all times, be survivor-centred and trauma-informed. It will identify broad themes and concerns arising from survivors' accounts and will report to the chair on all of these. The survivor engagement programme is one element of an overall survivor-centred and trauma-informed approach for the commission.”
“This is for the commission to decide and it will be based on those who come forward in the early days. The commission also has discretion in its work with regard to whether any part of its investigation is subject to ongoing legal proceedings. It is important to say that the commission will also have a survivor engagement programme which runs in parallel with its formal investigations. All survivors who wish to provide an account of their experiences to the commission will have the opportunity to do so through this programme. I emphasise that the survivor engagement programme will be non-adversarial, and survivors will be able to provide their account in private, in a supportive environment without cross-examination. The survivor engagement programme can also hear from a relative of a deceased survivor and it is completely anonymous.”
“It will then select samples for detailed investigation, informed by what survivors relate to it in the national survey. The commission may consider child sexual abuse in schools between 1927 and 2013 in its report. The terms of reference recognise that when such matters took place longer ago, there are realistic limitations on the commission's ability to conduct a meaningful investigation into those particular matters, and there may be fewer survivors or witnesses who can inform the commission as to what happened. To that end, the commission has the power to reduce the time period under investigation as it considers appropriate, and this will allow it to concentrate on periods of time that may provide answers for more of the survivors who come forward in that national survey.”
“That is why the terms of reference require that the commission complete its work within five years. Within the first two years, the chair is required to confirm his belief that this is achievable, or to propose any modifications that may be required to facilitate completion within five years. Survivors have been clear that they want to see outcomes in their lifetimes and I am absolutely committed to making sure that this happens, as I know the chair and all those involved in the commission are. To that end, the scoping inquiry's recommendation that the commission adopt a sampling approach is provided for in the terms of reference. The commission will conduct an initial national survey as it seeks to establish the potential volume of witnesses and evidence that may be available to support its investigations.”
“These include actions taken or not taken where concerns of child sexual abuse arose; failure to prevent harm to children where concerns of child sexual abuse arose; failure to report crimes and concerns to the appropriate authorities; concealment of child sexual abuse; whether laws and guidelines were followed; whether persons suspected of child sexual abuse were permitted to have access to children, or indeed moved to other locations or institutions where they again had access to children; whether there were co-ordinated actions with regard to child sexual abuse; and the approach taken toward criminal prosecutions and civil litigation. Another core priority for survivors is the need to see this process conducted as efficiently as possible and in a timely manner.”