This matter was discussed at Cabinet today. The Government has made some preliminary considerations which we will be spending more time reflecting on in the coming days.
Child sexual abuse is abhorrent, doubly so when those who perpetrate it are abusing a position of trust, which is why revulsion at clerical sex abuse runs so deep in the community, not just since last week's programme but on many issues in recent years. I want to make it clear that the law of the land applies to all irrespective of what status they hold. We have said that in relation to other issues in this House and I reiterate them today on this issue. I appeal to anyone who has information relating to clerical sex abuse to make it available to the Garda Síochána. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has discussed the general issues arising in recent days with the Deputy Commissioner of the Garda Síochána. The Garda has a duty to investigate in full any allegations of criminal wrongdoing and it is entitled to expect the full co-operation, within the law, of all citizens regardless of where they come from.
The Minister for Health and Children replied to Deputy Quinn's point and will now proceed with a non-statutory inquiry into the extent and handling of clerical sex abuse in the Diocese of Ferns arising from George Bermingham's report. That is being implemented with the agreement and co-operation of all the relevant parties. Regardless of recent events, we do not want to delay that in fairness to the victims who have worked extremely hard. My colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, will move on that issue today or tomorrow.
The Cabinet believes we should have further discussions on the gravity of the situation in the Dublin diocese. We need to reflect. While George Bermingham's inquiry is excellent, we believe that, when taken in its non-statutory form, it would be a good template for a national scheme. Mr. Bermingham has, as agreed by everyone, done an outstanding job and will not require that many months to complete it. Perhaps that will not be sufficient, so we need to spend some days in conjunction with the Attorney General, who is absent because of international business, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and my Government colleagues, looking at the gravity of the situation in Dublin and elsewhere. We will look at it closely over the next few days and decide how to move on it.
I emphasise three points. Anyone with any information on these matters should go to the Garda. The Minister and the Assistant Garda Commissioner have looked at, and the Government too will examine, what assistance or resources are needed. We will move forward on the Ferns inquiry and will come back shortly on the matter of Dublin and other locations.