Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Deputies who contributed and I shall try to respond as best I can to some of the issues they raised.

The judgment which Deputy Hayes mentioned refers to the Residential Institutions Redress Board and not to the commission. With regard to the report and the four-month extension, that request came from Mr. Justice Ryan. He indicated clearly that over 90% of the report has been completed and that he is satisfied he can complete the rest of it by mid-February. It will then be sent for printing. At this stage he is happy that the report will be ready at the end of May and indicates that this period will give sufficient time to the commission to complete its work. In terms of people working on the report, Mr. Justice Ryan indicated that during that period paralegal people will be employed in finalising the work. He feels justified in looking for the four extra months which will give him more than adequate time to complete the report.

With regard to the Louise O'Keeffe case it is appropriate to say that the court held there was no employee-employer relationship, de facto or otherwise, between the teacher and the State defendants. I advise the Dáil that the issue of costs is to be heard this week.

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