RTÉ’s investigation into the systematic sexual abuse of children by Christian Brothers should serve as a salutary reminder of the need to end the prevalence of religious orders in our schools, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.
Deputy Cummins, who is a TD for Dublin South-Central and the party’s education spokesperson, said:
“Last night’s harrowing RTÉ Investigates programme not only laid bare the unimaginable suffering of the victims, but also the utter lack of humanity, care or redress from the religious institutions that were supposed to protect them.
“Instead of being education providers, these so-called men of God were sexual predators who preyed on innocent children, causing them lifelong pain and suffering. It is unforgivable that those tasked with educating our children failed in their most basic duty of care, with survivors abandoned by the State and religious orders.
“Decades later, victims are still fighting to be heard and receive justice. The government cannot continue to rely on voluntary contributions from those religious organisations that ran schools where such horrific abuse occurred. This light-touch approach has resulted in too little accountability, too little compensation and too much suffering.
“There must be a concerted effort by the government to explore every legal avenue to go after the assets of religious orders that refuse to make significant financial contributions to redress schemes.
“In the Dáil next week, the Social Democrats will bring forward a motion calling for a clear, time-bound plan to increase the number of multi-denominational schools, accelerate the reconfiguration of school patronage, and end the dominance of religious control in public education.
“Next week’s motion is about real change. It’s about building an education system that is secular, modern and accountable – one that puts children, not institutions, first.
“We are calling on the government to stop stalling on this issue and to end, once and for all, the dominant role of religious bodies in Irish public education.”
May 2, 2025