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

There are two issues here. We wanted to do the opposite, namely, not to make the contributions public because I wanted to give the survivors an opportunity to be the first to know, after the Government had considered both the panel report and the offers made.

With regard to Deputy Quinn's point, the important thing is that when the Taoiseach and other Ministers met them the congregations indicated quite clearly they were prepared to make a substantial contribution. We now have the panel's report from the three individuals who did an outstanding job and graciously did not charge any fee for it. That is now available and will go to Government, probably in the week after the budget on the basis of this latest and final offer that came in. The Government will consider the assets vis-À-vis the cash in hand and the offer made. It is then a matter for Government to decide where it wishes to go from there.

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