The religious orders criticised in the Ryan Report are reportedly seeking to have their legal bills covered by the taxpayer.
The Sunday Tribune reports that the costs could run to €40m.
Meanwhile the religious orders are close to a final agreement with the Government on making further contributions of €100m, along with properties, to the redress scheme.
Fine Gael Senator Eugene Regan said the religious orders should not ask the taxpayer to pay their legal costs, saying: "It may be legally correct that the religious orders have been guaranteed the legal fees by the Government, but is it morally justifiable?"