Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today, the Minister for children, disability and equality, Deputy Foley, published a report on negotiations with religious organisations associated with the mother and baby institutions payment scheme. Ms Sheila Nunan was the independent negotiator tasked with leading these negotiations with these religious organisations and was very much involved, of course, with our former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. She engaged with eight religious bodies. This is all clearly set out in the report, which has been available to view on the gov.ie website since this afternoon.

On foot of these engagements, only one body, the Sisters of Bon Secours, offered a cash contribution of €12.97 million, which is in line, according to the report, "with the negotiator’s determination of a meaningful contribution". The Government has agreed to accept this contribution. Another body, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, offered to contribute a building. The Government has agreed that the Minister should consider this offer of this building and engage further with the congregation in respect of it. Only the third body, the Sisters of St John of God, offered a conditional donation of €75,000 to be used as a charitable donation towards the charitable purpose associated with the mother and baby home scheme. The remaining bodies did not offer any contribution.

To clarify, in case there is any misunderstanding, the Government wrote to these eight bodies, namely, the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, the Sisters of Bon Secours, the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of St. John of God the Legion of Mary and one I am glad to see on this list, although I am disappointed with its response, the Church of Ireland representative church body. Clearly, therefore, there are major issues.

This is a very important report. I thank the Minister for publishing it today. It raises very serious concerns with regard to the religious organisations but also the Government's response to addressing the redress scheme. We might have a debate on this particular issue at a time that is appropriate to the schedules of the Minister and the Leader.