The revelations about the systemic, sustained and grotesque sexual abuse that took place in Blackrock College over many years are shocking and harrowing. We now know that at least 233 men have made allegations of abuse against 77 Irish priests from the Spiritans order. Of that number, 57 have alleged they were abused on the campus of Blackrock College. Some of the abusers were serial abusers who abused with impunity over decades in that school. At night, they roamed freely through the boarding school, abusing their victims in their beds. A culture of omerta and a desire to protect the institution over the children in its care ensured that this dark chapter in the school's history remained shrouded in secrecy until now. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to brothers Mark and David Ryan who spoke bravely on an RTÉ documentary last week about their own abuse at the hands of Fr. Tom O'Byrne and other priests. Tragically, neither brother knew the other had been abused by the same man until they finally told their parents and went to the Garda in 2002.

Their story has prompted many more from a number of different schools run by religious orders to come forward and tell their stories of abuse, trauma and shattered lives. The Irish Times today features an interview with John, which is not his real name, who was repeatedly abused by Brother Luke McCaffrey in Willow Park in the 1980s and 1990. John said he still wakes up screaming, "No, Brother Luke. Please, Brother Luke, please, Brother Luke." He goes on to state:

I could never hold down a job, a steady relationship and have alienated all my friends, systematically. I have not met anybody socially in years, and am effectively a recluse, bar walking the dog. I am forever apologising to people for things I haven’t done wrong. I have never been convicted but have always felt like a criminal.

How can we stand over a situation in which those who have been abused feel like the criminals and the perpetrators do not? Many abusers have lived long lives and were respected in their communities until they died.

In the past hour, the Spiritans have announced that independent experts have been appointed to examine abuse in Spiritan-run schools. We need to examine the detail of that. However, this independent process covers just one congregation. The State has an obligation, belatedly, to act. We must have a public inquiry into what went on in these schools. We must know how many children were abused and by how many abusers. Why was it covered up for so long? There have been allegations of paedophile rings operating, which must also be examined. It is long past the time that we in this country finally dealt with our past in which children were repeatedly raped and abused by those who had a duty to protect them. I am asking the Taoiseach to agree to a public inquiry into these matters.

I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious issue. The level, scale and nature of sexual abuse carried out in Blackrock College and in other school settings is sickening and shocking. Our sympathies, if that is the right word, and thoughts go out to all the victims and survivors of such terrible abuse. Such sexual abuse causes immense trauma for the entire lives of those who have been abused.

It destroys many aspects of their lives. Unfortunately, that has been this story for many people for far too long. It is a stain on our society that so much abuse occurred in settings where people were entitled to feel safe and where they should have been protected and nurtured.

In that context, we have had many inquiries in the past into abuse in different settings, primarily church settings. I refer to the inquiries into what happened in the Ferns diocese, the Dublin archdiocese, the Cloyne diocese and the industrial schools, many of which were run by the religious. We have learned a lot from many of those inquiries, which were very painful and traumatic for many concerned.

We have agreed to a debate on this matter next week. I would be interested in engaging with Members of the Oireachtas and with other parties on how best to go about this. The Government is going to give the matter further consideration in the context of the most effective way to have a victim-led approach to unearthing all aspects of what went on here and if there was a cover-up, the nature of that cover-up. More important is to get a proper understanding of the scale of what went on. I am very conscious that in the past some inquiries took longer than people would have anticipated. I am very conscious that some were more effective and gave outcomes more quickly. The mode and manner in which we go about this is important. We have to learn lessons from previous inquiries in that regard. A bespoke-type of inquiry may be required. As the Deputy knows, the scope and terms of reference of any inquiry are very important. The Government is certainly giving this consideration, but I would like to do it in consultation with other Members of the Oireachtas.

I would appreciate that consultation. It is going to be necessary in order to find the best way to move forward. This is about isolation and people feeling they are the only one. It would not be possible for this to have gone on as long as it did without that feeling of isolation. On last night's "Prime Time" programme, Mark Ryan said, "You think you're the only one who has been abused. What's needed is a true picture of what happened." We need to get to that true picture of what happened, otherwise people will feel there is no accountability and will continue to feel that isolation. Essentially, some people will have spent a the whole of their lives responding to this. That poor man John feels that he is a criminal, even though he has done nothing wrong. I would appreciate having that engagement. The Taoiseach might articulate how that might happen in addition to the debate next week.

I pay tribute to those who have come forward, including Mark and David Ryan and others. The sexual crime management unit of the Garda National Protective Services Bureau has received a number of new complaints this week. Obviously, the Garda will be fully supported in carrying out its work in pursuing every lead possible.

I agree with what the Deputy said about the need to give support to survivors and victims who are coming forward to let them know that they are not alone and that the State will be there to support them in the context of getting the true picture of what happened in this context. We need to continue to lift the veil of silence over this particular matter and try to give some degree of closure, if possible, but also a sense of justice to those who have been abused and those who have been traumatised by what happened in the college and to end the sense of isolation the Deputy spoke about.