Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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270. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department and a third-party’s engagement with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to the organisation’s reported efforts to withdraw monies lodged with his Department and the HSE in the 1990s; if he will provide an up-to-date figure on the amount of money currently held by his Department and the HSE from the original account from the 1990s; if he will provide a copy of the agreement referred to in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9372/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the North Eastern Health Board purchased Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in 1997. The Congregation signed a Deed of Indemnity and Charge dated 15 April 1997 with the Minister for Health and the North Eastern Health Board, pursuant to which it agreed to indemnify the State against claims “arising out of or in connection with” potential liability in respect of possible claims of alleged abuse. The Deed of Indemnity and Charge, is the agreement referred to in the newspaper report, provided by the Deputy.

The Deed provided for the establishment of a deposit account over which the Health Board and the Minister were given a first charge as security. The Fund was created by the lodgement of the sum of IR£1,600,000, by the Congregation, into an investment fund managed by a third party.

Within the deed, there are provisions which allow for the appointment of an independent expert to make a determination on a withdrawal. Such an independent expert has been appointed, and is in the process of making a determination. Given that this process in on-going, I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.