Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I will quote the Senator shortly, but I will first deal with the general point. Not everybody who went to the redress board either got compensation or had recommendations made and not everybody completed the application, for all sorts of reasons which we will never fully understand. We can guess, but we do not know. Given the limited amount of money, we have had to confine it to the category of people who were victims of abuse, went through the process and were recognised. At another time this House will hear from Senator McAleese about his recommendations relating to the Magdalene Laundries. The issue in Bethany House is more complex.

However, my undertaking to review the operation of the fund in two years is sincere, and I will formulate some concrete proposals for Report Stage as to how I propose to do it. The review will not commence after two years. There will be an ongoing review and there will be a report on progress achieved at the end of two years. That is my intention but I wish to discuss with colleagues and officials how we can do that. It is my intention, in principle, to tell the incoming board when it is appointed to keep a running record, so to speak, so we can review progress, as one would in any normal organisation, to assess whether we are achieving the objectives we set out to achieve and whether the money will be drawn down. If there is spare money available, we can look at where that is but we must get the money in first.

Senator Kathryn Reilly, whose presence in the House I welcome, put some statements on the record relating to the attitude of the Government. That is her right as a Senator in the Opposition. I have used that position myself in the past. However, in return, I make a request to the Senator. She is a young woman with a long career ahead of her and she belongs to an organisation that has a long history. She could address the hurt of the relatives of the disappeared, whom the Provisional IRA murdered and some of whom are buried in this State. She could call upon some of the veterans who are cherished and celebrated in her party's ranks to come forward in whatever way they can to inform the authorities where the remains of the disappeared are so their relatives can give due recognition to the rites of passage and burial. The Senator has the influence to do that. She is a respected Member of the Oireachtas and has authority in her party. I ask her to consider using her influence in that respect.

I will quote Senator Mullen. He can correct me if I am wrong but the record will show it and we have tomorrow to discuss it in detail. The Senator said I do not have the moral authority to call on the religious orders to come forward on the principle of the 50:50 ratio.