Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

In fairness, the Committee of Public Accounts looked into this matter in some detail and correspondence between party leaders also took place at the time in terms of fair and reasonable questions being put and the Taoiseach of the day responding to clarify the Government position. I make the point that it is a feature of governmental power and of Government to be in a position to settle or dispose of cases against the State in the normal way under the Civil Liability Acts 1961 to 1964. One should not suggest that there is not a vires within Government to do this as Government does it all the time in terms of claims against the State. Therefore, the question of Government making that decision was totally in consonance with its powers and obligations, and any suggestion to the contrary is not helpful to the debate because it is not correct.

Second, in regard to this question of a meeting with the congregations, after the Government has given full consideration to all of these matters, I will, of course, as I have indicated to Deputy Kenny, seek to meet the representatives of the congregations. Regardless of the legalities of the situation, the issues we have to contend with here are the fact that this report graphically sets out the needs of victims and the imperative of ensuring that the right thing is done to redress what has happened and the suffering the victims have endured. The Government will not be deterred from this; we will seek to do it and we will do it. I hope the statement by the Christian Brothers today is a prelude to a similar disposition among all of the congregations to now meet their responsibilities, as they are seen, in the interests of a credible response to the appalling litany of abuse that marks the contents of this important report.

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