Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The reason I raise this issue is that Sheila Nunan was appointed in July. Is that correct?. Six months have passed since then. It is frustrating for people who are listening to this, especially as the religious orders played such a role. I accept that it was ultimately the responsibility of the State and that is key. However, it is difficult to even think that someone had to be appointed to handle the negotiations. They have to acknowledge their role. They have acknowledged their role by publicly apologising and the same is the case for the pharmaceutical companies.

Can we look at other models? There was a similar situation in Australia, where the possibility of amending the legislation on the Statute of Limitations there was looked at to force the religious organisations to accept that they would spend years in court and that, ultimately, people would be owed money. We need to look at something like that. I accept that person was appointed in good faith and, as a former trade union official, I accept it is not always possible to talk publicly about negotiations, but we are six months down the road and we have not heard anything about what is happening. Are any figures on the table? Is money being discussed? It is important for people to know. I apologise to An Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for going over time.

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