The advocacy group Restore Together has written to Minister Norma Foley T.D. this morning expressing its real concern that any statutory inquiry into sexual abuse of children at schools could result in yet further delays to urgently needed justice and redress for victims/ survivors whose suffering continues daily, decades after they were abused.

Media reports in July and again today refer to the imminent establishment of a redress scheme only after the conclusion of any inquiry. This would unnecessarily add years of delay to urgently needed justice and healing for all victims/ survivors of abuse.

It is already fully accepted by the Spiritan and other religious orders that widespread abuse took place over a long-time frame affecting hundreds of children, who are now adults, and that they must receive justice and redress.

Restore Together’s strong wish is that any statutory inquiry must be structured to reflect the urgency of the situation putting the best interests of victims/ survivors first. This could be partially achieved by the concurrent operation of parallel strands of any inquiry aimed at providing healing, redress and justice to victim/ survivors without any further delay.

In addition, no action by our Government should inadvertently provide cover that enables religious orders to further delay justice and healing urgently needed by victims/ survivors who have carried their burden for decades already.

Restorative Justice or similar support programmes already in operation or under negotiation, including the provision of financial redress, with the various religious congregations must not be limited, set back or delayed in any way by the establishment by the Government of a statutory inquiry.