Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There is no means by which the Government can legally impose a solution in this respect. The Government has indicated that, as a result of the conclusions of this report, there is a clear moral responsibility on the congregations to make additional substantial contributions towards the victims and the provision of assistance and help and towards welfare and education services generally arising from this report, given the clear systemic issue in these institutions. Congregations have varying roles in terms of the number of institutions and the contribution they were making in respect of these schools and institutions.

I do not have a preconceived notion of what is adequate. I must see the full resources available to these congregations in order to make that judgment.

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