Speaking in the Seanad on the Ferns Report, Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú said: 

“When the Ferns Report was published it was one of the blackest days in the history of the Church and of the country. In a way, it impacted on every citizen and every home. It also impacted on beliefs that we have had passed on to us from generation to generation. It would not be an overstatement to say that the nation was absolutely stunned by the revelations. The Report's explicit outline of cases was horrifying and our thoughts were, in the first instance, with the victims.” 

“There must now be ongoing interaction between the Church and Government. I would not like to think that we would suddenly decide that the good the Church did in the past, the potential it has for the future and the respected status it still has with so many people in this country would be ignored. There must, of course, be discussion across the table with the bishops. Whenever we wanted help from the Church in our family or community, it was always there -in the areas of education, health and other social issues.” 

“The Ferns Report is a milestone in the history of the Church and the country. Those who suffered and were so hurt must now feel that they are being listened to and will be helped. We must also look beyond this to the next milestone. The Church has overcome many problems in the past. It is the fervent hope of many that a positive result will now emerge from the debate.“