Taoiseach defends indemnity deal with religious orders
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has defended the Government's decision to indemnify religious orders against compensation for child abuse in state-owned institutions.
Speaking in the Dáil today, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte demanded that the Taoiseach reveal the basis on which the Government decided that the taxpayer should pay virtually the entire compensation bill.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy, who resigned as chair of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse last year, had requested papers outlining why the controversial deal was reached, but these papers were not forthcoming.
Mr Ahern said today that the decision to indemnify the religious orders was a policy decision made by the Government because the State was responsible for putting people into institutions where they were subsequently abused.
