Tánaiste Micheál Martin has told religious orders they will be expected to co-operate fully with the State over the inquiry into abuse within order-run schools.
The Fianna Fáil leader also said that some religious orders did not deliver what they had committed to in terms of redress under previous abuse inquiries.
Mr Martin, who was speaking at Haulbowline Naval Base as he commissioned two new inshore patrol vessels into the Naval Service fleet, said the findings of the report were “truly shocking”.
The report found there were almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse at 308 religious-run schools nationwide.
It recommended that a commission of investigation be established, but that its terms of reference also be extended to include all secondary schools in the State including those not under the control of religious orders
“We have had a long litany of abuse inquiries over 20 to 25 years now, beginning with the inquiries into the industrial schools,” Mr Martin said.
“The level of abuse revealed in this report was very shocking – it was very sad and traumatic for those involved.
“The Government will do everything we possibly can to have a victim-led inquiry and also to work on the other recommendations through supporting the victims in every way we can.
“I have been speaking with the Education Minister, Norma Foley, about the recommendations and the scope and the nature of the inquiry.”
Mr Martin said religious orders now face clear issues over the matter of redress.
“They have a huge responsibility in respect of redress,” he said.
“There have been many civil cases...where many victims have been dragged through the courts unnecessarily following convictions of people in respect of schools.
“The religious orders will have to cooperate with the State in this regard.
“Given the expected breadth of the inquiry – the terms of reference are being worked on – the recommendation is not just to do religious schools but indeed all schools.
“That is an enormous task...in the meantime, the redress question cannot be indefinitely parked.
“We acknowledge that and we are considering how best to do justice for the victims of this terrible sexual and physical abuse.”
Mr Martin said he did not want the victims involved to have to wait indefinitely for justice or redress.
He said the one major factor of previous abuse inquiries was that victims did not have to wait indefinitely for redress.
“The State had responsibilities in respect of the industrial schools,” he said. “They (some religious orders) did get away – they did not, in my view, make the contribution that they signed up to make (in redress). Some did and some did not.”
He said the proposed inquiry must put the needs and rights of those who suffered abuse in schools at the core of its operation.
“We have to be victim-led in the first instance and their needs have to be paramount,” he said.
His party and cabinet colleague, Jack Chambers, said religious orders named in the report should “make a contribution” to the compensation of victims through the redress programme called for in the Scoping Inquiry.
“My sympathies are with all of the victims, and I commend them for their courage as part of the process that we’ve had up to this point,” said Mr Chambers, who added that he had watched Prime Time the night before, and heard the harrowing experiences “that so many young people had in our school system”.
“I know many more will come forward as part of the next process.
“Obviously, the Government will discuss the recommendations, but I think generally there should be a contribution made by religious institutions for any redress scheme which might come from this process. They should be part of that.”
He said he believed the religious orders “have been quite defensive on this”. He added that it was shameful that so many victims have waited for so long to have their stories heard.
They “haven’t had any accountability and that’s why it’s important that the next stage of this, led by Minister Foley, is progressed quickly”.
Asked if the orders should be legally compelled to pay, Mr Chambers said: “We need absolute accountability when it comes to the religious orders and their involvement in this over many years.
“They need to be involved and obviously the legal mechanisms and how that’s done, both for the process itself and the redress scheme, will be for further Government discussion.
“But no religious order should be left behind as part of this. They need to be involved when it comes to accountability and being part of the scheme.”