There seemed to be a vested interest in this country to stop children finding out what should not be done to them, Mr Joe O'Toole (Ind) told the House.
Contributing to the debate on the outcome of the Murphy inquiry into abuses in swimming, he said the Minister for Sport, Dr McDaid, had taken criticism in his own constituency for taking a stand on issues like sex education and "Stay Safe" procedures for children.
Some members of the Oireachtas had blocked progress towards helping children to stay safe. Certain things should be made an absolute rule, especially in the light of the latest revelations. A coach should never be on his or her own with a child who was in a state of semi-undress.
Mr O'Toole said every argument he had heard against mandatory reporting was an argument about professionalism. But all these arguments could be dealt with. Senators should grasp the nettle in this regard. Local dogooders who were preventing children from learning about themselves and their bodies should be told to get wise and to put children first.
Mr Fergus O'Dowd (FG) said the Irish Amateur Swimming Association had failed the children who were part of it - it should disband. Someone like Gary O'Toole and others should be brought in to set up a new association.
Anyone who took away the innocence of a child was guilty of committing a heinous crime and he would have no difficulty with the introduction of rough and tough penalties, such as a minimum prison sentence of 20 years. "I really think we have to be extremely harsh on them. We must not give them an inch if they have abused our children."
Dr McDaid noted that the president of the IASA had announced the appointment of a "change management" team and that expert advice had been sought. The president had also stated that consultations would be held with all the branches of the association to gather ideas as to how the proposed change could be best achieved.
"I welcome this commitment to this wider consultation and I am convinced that it is only by involving all the members, at every level, that confidence can be restored to the sport of swimming in Ireland."
The Minister also said the reconvened McLeavey expert committee had met last Friday to begin its review of a code of ethics and good practice for children's sport. "Ultimately, and most importantly, the recommendations of the Murphy report are a matter for the IASA and all of its members, each of whom must now engage in the process of addressing the issues raised in the report."
Mr Pat Gallagher (Lab) said he had been very surprised to see the Murphy report recommendation that coaches should be professionally qualified before undertaking hypnosis therapy. He believed hypnosis should be banned in sport.
He hoped particularly that the report's recommendations on counselling and therapy for the victims would be put in place. He thought child protection officers should be designated in all sporting bodies.