The Taoiseach also directly challenged Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, to answer specific questions on the issue following allegations made by former Sinn Fein member Mairia Cahill.
The questions included:
• Were people “expelled” from the North and still now operating in the Republic – and if so where were they and what were they doing now?
• Did three senior IRA people make Mairia Cahill repeatedly answer questions and also confront her attacker?
• Was she forcibly sworn to secrecy and forbidden to report the case to the police?
Gerry Adams said the claims were a slur “on thousands of decent Sinn Fein members” by falsely alleging they covered up sex abuse cases involving Republicans.
The Sinn Fein leader strongly denied there was any “cover-up” by his party.
He said he wanted all abuse victims to come forward and tell their stories, adding: “They will have Sinn Fein’s full support in doing so.”