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

I will be bringing the report of the panel appointed by the Government to assess the statements of resources submitted by the 18 religious congregations that were party to the 2002 indemnity agreement, together with details of the congregations' offers of contributions, to the attention of the Government shortly. The arrangements for the publication of the panel's report and the offers of contributions will be considered by the Government. While some individual congregations have published details of their offers, the Deputy will be aware of my concern to have the collective comprehensive position available for survivors and their representatives in the first instance.

The Deputy will be aware of the background to the call for a further substantial contribution from the religious congregations and the establishment of an independent panel to assess the financial statements of the congregations. As the Deputy points out, it is some eight months since the publication of the Ryan report. It is fair, however, to acknowledge that the work of the panel was complex involving an assessment of financial statements from 18 congregations. The panel submitted its report at the end of October. Following examination my Department sought some clarifications and in response the panel submitted an expanded report on 25 November. Over the same period a response was awaited from the religious congregations to the calls for a further substantial contribution. These responses were received during the period from late October to early December.

While an overall offer of a contribution on behalf of the congregations collectively was sought, the congregations' responses have been on an individual basis, and a complete set of responses received by early December, 2009. These offers are separate from the 2002 indemnity agreement and associated contributions. The current engagement with the religious congregations does not involve a re-negotiation of that agreement. The offers are not the subject of any negotiation with the Government but rather are a matter for the religious congregations to make in the light of the findings of the Ryan report, the cost of redress to the State, the resources available to the congregations and, ultimately, for the public to judge. The uses to which the contributions will be put will be considered by the Government in consultation with the representatives of the survivors and the congregations.

Since early December my Department has examined the panel's final report and the responses from the congregations. It has also been in contact with other relevant Departments and has commenced the formal consultation process required before I submit the matters to Government. As I indicated at the outset I hope to do this very shortly.

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