Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

As regards the indemnity agreement, it should be made clear that the State had a duty to make amends for the abuse of children placed in institutions. The State was involved in placing those children in institutions and obviously had a responsibility to make amends. Nonetheless, it was considered that the congregations should make a contribution towards that. That is why the negotiations were entered into between the Government and the congregations. The Deputy spoke of a possible 50-50 arrangement.

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