Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 288: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, arising from his public statement of 26 May 2009, he has received a response to his call to the religious congregations to articulate their willingness to make a further substantial voluntary contribution arising from the Ryan report; if a meeting has been arranged with representatives of the congregations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22356/09]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 290: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the matters discussed at his meeting on 4 June 2009 with representatives of the religious orders that ran institutions identified in the Ryan report in which children were abused; if the question of additional payments by the orders was discussed; if he plans further meetings with these orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22968/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 290 together.

On Thursday 4th June 2009, the Taoiseach, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues, met with representatives of the Religious Congregations to begin the process of addressing with them the issues arising from the publication of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse. The Taoiseach conveyed the view of the Government and indeed the wider public that further substantial contributions are required from the Congregations by way of reparation. Furthermore, the contributions need to be capable of being assessed by the public for their significance by reference to the full resources available to the Congregations and in the context of the costs of well over a billion euro being borne by the State. The Taoiseach asked the Congregations to revert with proposals in this regard.

The same group again met with the representatives of the various Religious Congregations on Wednesday 24th June at which the Religious Congregations reported on the progress they had made in compiling reports on their financial positions. It is expected that reports signed off on by their financial advisors will be submitted by the Congregations to the Government by mid July when a further meeting will be held.

The Taoiseach has stated that the Government would now move to appoint a panel of three eminent independent persons to assess the material submitted by the congregations and report to Government as to the adequacy of these statements as a basis for assessing the resources of the Congregations.

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 289: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the matters discussed at his meeting on 3 June 2009 with eight groups representing victims of child abuse in institutions run by religious orders; if he plans to meet this group again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22967/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On Wednesday 3rd June the Taoiseach, Mr Brian Cowen TD, along with myself and other Cabinet colleagues met with survivors groups to begin the process of discussion of the issues arising from the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.

The Taoiseach reiterated the apology issued to survivors by former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, TD, and conveyed directly and personally a sincere apology, on behalf of the Government, of the State and of all our citizens, for the failure to intervene, to detect their pain or to come to their rescue. The representatives were told that the needs of survivors of abuse are a particular priority of the Government at this time.

The Taoiseach pointed out that the Government have accepted all of the recommendations of the Commission and are committed to their full implementation. Mr Cowen also referred to the fact that the Government had called on representatives of the Religious Congregations concerned to make further substantial contributions by way of reparation.

The Taoiseach also stressed that those who perpetrated crimes against survivors, no matter how long ago, must be made amenable to the law so that they can be held to account for such crimes. He added that an Assistant Garda Commissioner has been tasked with examining the totality of the Commission Report and that criminal investigations are continuing in respect of a significant number of people.

The Taoiseach told those present that Minister Barry Andrews will bring to Government before the end of July a comprehensive implementation plan to put in place the recommendations of the report. As well as listening to the issues raised by survivor groups at the meeting, each group was asked to make a submission outlining the needs of survivors going forward. All of the issues raised, together with the recommendations of the Report, will be considered in full by the Government.