Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The Minister, Deputy Foley, today published the report by Sheila Nunan on negotiations with the religious bodies involved in running mother and baby homes. It is disappointing to see how little the orders are prepared to do towards paying their fair share of redress. The vast majority are dragging their feet and delaying on the issue of redress. I think just one substantial offer has been made by one order, along with two fairly derisory offers from two other orders. There has been nothing at all from the others. These orders are not short of money. An investigation by Noteworthy for The Journal showed that the religious orders involved in historic abuse sold over 75 properties worth more than €90 million between 2016 and 2022 alone. What will the Government do to compel religious orders and associated lay-run trusts to pay their fair share of redress? I have drafted legislation for the Labour Party to address the imbalance of power to make it easier for survivors to seek justice by providing the Government and the State with additional powers to effectively compel the payment of redress. I would be very happy to share that again with the Minister.

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