Martin urges orders to make ‘new gesture’ on abuse
The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, has called on Catholic religious orders to make a "new gesture of recognition" in relation to the widespread abuse of children in state-owned institutions.
The call comes as pressure grows for a renegotiation of the indemnity deal negotiated between the Government and the orders in 2002.
Under the deal, the orders agreed to give €127m worth of property to the State in exchange for indemnity from compensation claims by people who were physically, sexually and emotionally abused at children's residential homes.
The final compensation bill is expected to cost the Irish taxpayer around €1.3bn.
The Taoiseach and several government ministers have defended the indemnity agreement, saying the State bears the main share of responsibility for the mistreatment of children.
Brian Cowen has also suggested that there are no legal grounds for renegotiating the agreement.
The opposition, however, says the religious orders should be paying significantly more than just 10% of the bill and the Government should be doing everything in its power to revisit the matter.
