Seanad debates
Tuesday, 7 October 2003
Order of Business: Motion. - Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Statements.
Where now for the work of the commission? Ms Justice Laffoy asked for additional resources to speed up its work, but the delays faced by the commission have been multiplied further as a result of her resignation. Legislation must be passed by the Oireachtas to make Mr. Seán Ryan a High Court judge to enable him to become chairman of the commission, which is in crisis. Amendments to legislation will have to be considered if changes are suggested following multiple reviews of the work and the remit of the commission. It is certain that this will take time. The Government is delaying the process which it intended to speed up. It claims that the slow pace of the process has caused the difficulties that have arisen. The Minister initiated a review in December 2002 and he went to Cabinet with the heads of a Bill in April 2003, but we have not yet seen what is being proposed.
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