Results 11,061-11,080 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have repeatedly said that I am a very happy adult who received a wonderful education from what is now the Spiritan Congregation in Ireland, formerly the Christian Brothers. The Senator has heard me say this many times in private and in public. Incidentally, in my 12 years with that order, I did not know anybody who was the victim of abuse. However, the reason I have asked the religious...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, the contribution they are making. They have said to me that they do not own the property any more as it has been assigned to a trust. I said: "Come on."

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Okay. Then I invite the Senator to look at the title deeds and the legal documentation of the trust. The Senator is a qualified person. In the event of the trust disintegrating or disappearing, am I correct in understanding that the properties managed and administered by the trusts would revert to the religious order? The Senator will find that I am correct, but we can have that...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am saying this because in my constituency two secondary schools were closed unilaterally by religious orders, in some cases where money had been provided by the State to build the buildings. Happily, in one case, that building has now been repurchased by the State. I know the religious orders do not have the financial resources available to reach the €100 million that would be required.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I will address that question momentarily. Let me address the first question. These are the owners of a massive infrastructure, including two hospitals in this city, St. Vincent's Hospital and the Mater Hospital. It will cost us €600 million to build a new children's hospital. The religious orders own the two buildings and, when they are no longer using the buildings as educational...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The religious orders were 50% complicit in the abuse to which Senator Heffernan referred but so were the rest of us. Civil servants examined those places and saw what was going on but they did not report it. Why did they not report it? Why was the predominant culture of Catholic Ireland in the 1950s-----

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Senator Mullen raised the question-----

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Why did observant Catholics in the Civil Service, in the Department of Education and elsewhere, feel so compelled that, in some cases, they were not prepared to act? This has been speculated on because we can only imagine. I am not quoting any document or evidence. Why was there an atmosphere such that, when the Garda Commissioner communicated with the late Dr. Charles McQuaid about...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The religious orders have a particular vocation and I admire and respect them for what they have done, but they are representative of a wider Catholic community. I think Senator Mullen will accept that definition without prejudice.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: No, a very self-assertive Catholic community that imposed its value system on the secular State.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I respectfully suggest that, had Senator Mullen been present at the beginning of the debate and heard my original comments, we might have had a different exchange than the one we are having.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Acting Chairman for the extension of time and for her tolerance. I will address a number of points on Committee Stage tomorrow but, in respect of the cheque to which the Senator referred, the fund does not yet exist and therefore we cannot cash it. I note that Senator Mullen is encouraging them not to pay it or to endow under it.

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Second Stage (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: We are drifting into a premature debate on Committee Stage. I propose to conclude on this point. There are points about information and communication and the reason why the original redress board fund was extended a number of times. I commend the Bill to the House and I thank the House for the debate. Question put: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: These proposals seek to widen eligibility for the fund. Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 propose that former residents who would have been eligible for an award from the redress board had they applied should be eligible to apply to the fund. Anybody who receives a court award or settlement in respect of an action arising out of circumstances which could give rise to an application to the redress...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Senators for their comments. For their own reasons, 15,000 people chose to present their cases to the redress board. The latter conceded that 94% of these individuals had valid cases and paid out compensation in varying amounts. I understand that the average amount paid was of the order of €60,000 plus. This was compensation for damage done - as a result of negligence on the...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Senators for their clarification on these points. I have listened to what they said and all I can say in response to the proposal is that I will review the measure in two years' time. We will respond to it and, if necessary, I will come back to this House and report on the issue. It is my intention to set up the board in September. I will call for public expressions of interest...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The proposal in amendment No. 5 that a one-off payment be made from the fund is not acceptable given that there is no apparent linkage between the making of such a payment and the needs of former residents. As I stated on Second Stage, the purpose of the fund is not to be a form of additional compensation. That issue is a matter for the redress board. The function of the fund is, as...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Amendments Nos. 6 and 10 propose the establishment of an assessment panel comprising four members of the statutory fund board to examine applications from persons who did not make an application to the redress board or who will have a court determination made in an action arising out of residency in a scheduled institution. Recipients of a court awards will be eligible to apply for the fund...

Seanad: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Committee and Remaining Stages (20 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The effect of this amendment would be to preclude the board from taking account of an applicant's financial circumstances when determining its criteria. The whole purpose of the fund is that it should target its resources to meet the needs of former residents. This section requires the board to take account of the individual's circumstances, including personal and financial circumstances,...