Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

How much does the Taoiseach expect the Supplementary Estimate to be for —€500 million, €1 billion or more? Second, does the Statute of Limitations apply to those in psychiatric institutions or those who have been in long-stay beds who suffer from intellectual disabilities? Third, why is it necessary to introduce a specific statute for this type of claim, which is quite unusual, in that public institutions and bodies are involved, obviously with the consent of the Department? Section 71 of the Statute of Limitations 1957 deals with the general law in Ireland. Is there no likelihood of claims that the Government was involved in a fraudulent State cover-up? In February 1987, the late John Boland, then Minister for Health, introduced and had Government approval for proposals to deal with the illegality, but that was subsequently dropped by the incoming Government in March of that year, in which the current Ceann Comhairle was Minister for Health.

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