The Cabinet has agreed to establish a commission of investigation into cases of sexual abuse at several schools run by religious orders spanning several decades.
Work will now get under way around appointing a chairperson for the commission and drawing up its terms of reference for the inquiry that will have wide-ranging powers.
The Cabinet heard this morning that the commission of investigation could have to potentially inquire into thousands of cases of abuse.
It is understood that consultations are going to take place with survivors throughout the day ahead of the publication of a report into the matter after 6pm.
Some of those familiar with the report that went to Cabinet have described its findings as shocking.
They said there are a large number of schools referenced in the report’s index.
Some in Government believe this could be “just the beginning” of a much wider issue and non-Catholic run schools may also have be included in the inquiry.
Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman considered the issue at their regular meeting last night.
Today’s move by Government stems from allegations of historic sexual abuse at Blackrock College in Dublin.
Some of the survivors of sexual abuse at Blackrock College have been informed they may receive the report later today.
The report solely examined schools run by Roman Catholic religious institutions.
Mr Harris has said that survivors will be the first to know the next steps the Government takes in relation to any statutory inquiry.
Speaking ahead of this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Harris thanked Minister for Education Norma Foley for how she has handled the issue, and for engaging with survivors.
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“It’s a statement of fact that the minister has reviewed the scoping report that has been carried out,” he said.
“She and I and everyone in Government has said that in terms of the next steps the people we want to know first are the survivors – and the representatives the minister has been engaging with.
“I can assure you that’s the way which we will proceed.”
It featured brothers Mark and David Ryan, who told their harrowing stories of repeated sexual abuse at the school in south Dublin.
Following its broadcast, many other students contacted RTÉ’s Liveline programme to talk about what happened to them.
Within a week, 233 men had joined the Ryan brothers in making allegations of historic abuse against members of the Spiritan congregation who co-run Blackrock College as well as other schools run by other religious congregations.
Mark Ryan died suddenly in London aged 62, suffering a suspected heart attack.
His brother David said it was a huge shock.
“Mark and I never really talked before. But since the Doc on One, we just got closer and closer. He stood by me, so caring and loving. It’s such a loss. He did everything for me. He was my rock. A rock,” he said.
Additional reporting Paul Cunningham
