Dear Paddy,
I have sought legal advice on the matter.
The position of the Labour Party is as follow:
First, there was no change of mind by the Labour Party on its Institutional Child Abuse Bill 2009, which was debated by the Dáil on the 7th and 8th July 2009. Nor was there any all party agreement.
Labour’s Bill was put to a vote and was defeated by the Government parties.
Second, there is a limited degree of all party agreement as to the disbursal of the additional contributions due from the religious congregations.
All parties agreed unanimously to a motion which: “notes that both in the meetings with former residents and the congregations support was expressed for the proposal that the use of a further substantial contribution from the congregations should include a form of independent trust to be set up by the State which would be available to support the needs of survivors for general education and welfare purposes”.
However, we await further details as to the manner of proposed operation of this independent trust.
Best regards
Joan Burton TD.
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party.
