Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that welcome update regarding the number of applications. However, I will repeat: it is a quarter of a century since the apology, and every step of the way, every redress scheme has been faulty, including the one the Minister is standing over, which is unfair, unjust and excludes thousands of people. I think it excludes 24,000 people. It excludes those who suffered because of their race and those who were boarded out. The Minister knows that. The figure that has been allocated is €800 million, not all of which will go to the survivors who apply because there are administrative and legal costs. That is the background.

I am not blaming the Minister on this. I am seeking to get information from him where we are using kid gloves with religious orders. I remember back in 2002, the Minister at that stage, the former Deputy Woods, gave an indemnity to all of the religious organisations for €126 million. That was the lowest ebb ever. Now we are back, and we have a negotiator negotiating. Has the Minister a date for that at this stage, after all of this time?

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