Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister for his reply. When speaking to an amendment he tabled in the Dáil, my colleague, Deputy Crowe, highlighted the case of a woman who spent 19 years in an institution in Galway. She was supposed to be released on her 16th birthday but was kept in that institution until she reached the age of 21. When she brought her case to the High Court it lasted for six or seven years and was eventually thrown out due to inordinate delays in having it heard. When she went before the redress board she was informed that there was no case to answer because she had gone to the High Court in the first instance. How could that be right?

In the context of the eligibility criteria, the Minister has committed to holding a review after two years. As Senator Bradford inquired, how will we be in a position to know for sure that the door will not be fully closed? Will the review focus merely on the expenditure of the moneys in the fund or will it also include the eligibility criteria? If a significant proportion of the moneys in the fund have been expended, will the Minister rule out a review of the eligibility criteria? In such circumstances, what will happen to those considered ineligible to apply?