Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I support the request by Deputies Bacik and McDonald in respect of abuse in the past, but I also ask the Taoiseach, in the interest of balance, if the State has ever made any effort to quantify the positive contribution by the churches in this State. I think of the Covid crisis, for example, and, when many people were dying on their own and isolated from their families, the support they got from many religious in this State. Many religious buried people during the Covid crisis at great threat to themselves. They were the only group the State never thanked for the help provided during Covid. I think of Fr. John Joe Duffy, for example, who managed to hold together his community in Creeslough. I think of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Trócaire, Fr. Peter McVerry, Sr. Stan, the Capuchin Day Centre and all the schools that do tremendous work in educating our children. Is there any quantification done by the State of the positive impact that has on society?

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