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

I welcome that the Minister would potentially consider other options and the fact that a report is coming. That is information people were not aware of to date.

What is the timeframe? Negotiations cannot go on indefinitely, even with the best will in the world on both sides. It is unfair. The cynical part of me would ask whether the religious organisations are just pushing out the clock in this. That does not even get into the fact that the pharmaceutical companies are not included. Has the Government looked at other ways, or will it when the report comes back on the religious organisations, to ultimately force those two groups to pay up what they should for the horrific human rights abuses they inflicted on people?

On the timeframe, the Minister said he is working to get the administrative part up and running. I will also give the Minister the opportunity to reiterate to survivors that they do not need legal assistance. We have spoken about this before. It seems to keep coming up. We are still getting worried phone calls. Will the Minister take the opportunity to say to people that they do not need to go down that road? They can also contact representatives' offices.

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