Vol. 505 No. 3
280 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions, if any, with Mr. Brian Tobin, Premier of Newfoundland, in view of the contents in the documentary, "States of Fear", showing that one of the first investigations into child sexual abuse by Irish Christian Brothers took place there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12786/99]
As the Deputy will be aware the Government has appointed a Commission on Childhood Abuse which is to be chaired by Ms Justice Laffoy of the High Court. The commission will provide a forum for victims of abuse and will in addition conduct wide-ranging inquiries into the nature, extent and causes of abuse of children in Irish society. The commission will be an independent body, free to conduct inquiries when and where it sees fit. The Government has undertaken to provide the commission with any statutory powers and protections it requires. While I would not, therefore, presume to pre-empt the decision of the commission as to how it will conduct its work, inquiries of the kind referred to in the Deputy's question would be more effectively conducted by the commission, if it considers that to be relevant, in the context of its extensive inquiries into all aspects of abuse of children. It is not my intention therefore to make separate inquiries into the matter.
