Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to be consistent because this is an important issue. The Minister helpfully explained to the House that a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General clearly identified a range of issues. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General issued a press statement in the past ten minutes which refers to outcomes and lessons that have to be learned. We also heard from the Minister about the shortfall in the money owed to the State by religious congregations as part of their commitment to a redress scheme. In effect, the congregations have only delivered 13% of the total cost of the scheme. This issue is so serious that it warrants a debate in the House. I request that the Leader ask the Minister to come to the House to discuss the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, although not necessarily its financial implications. The redress scheme is about to be wound down and the Minister indicated a willingness to come to the House.

Later today, we will discuss two issues related to redress, recompense and apology, all of which are connected. I ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister to come to the House as soon as possible to elaborate on the detail of the redress scheme, as it is being wound down, and, more important, to set out the lessons that can be learned and recommendations made in the Comptroller and Auditor General's report.