Tánaiste: Religious orders cannot 'plead the poor mouth' and must contribute to school abuse redress
The Government last week announced that a commission of investigation into the handling of sexual abuse in schools was to be established, following a scoping inquiry last year that detailed almost 2,400 allegations of sexual abuse across more than 300 religious schools.
However, while no details of a redress scheme have been discussed, there are fears it could dwarf any scheme previously seen in Ireland and cost multiple billions of euro. The potential size of any redress scheme has caused some unease in Government, with potentially as many as 40,000 survivors.
Asked about the potential bill, Simon Harris said the Government will seek to have religious orders pay towards the scheme.
"Children were sexually abused at schools, including special schools, especially despicable acts that happened over a sustained period of time. And I agree with the scoping inquiry report, and I agree with the survivors and families of victims of abuse who rightly want to see the perpetrators pay.
"[At] a check in point after two years Government will...return to the issue of redress. But I'm very clear, as is (education minister Helen) McEntee, that the first port of call in relation to any redress scheme that may be considered has to be the religious institutions.
I think it's highly questionable some of these organisations have pled the poor mouth when many of these are very, very well resourced organisations.
"I think if people accept accountability, if people want to show their Christianity, I think they have to really step up."
Recent efforts to have religious orders pay for redress schemes have not been successful.
In April, children's minister Norma Foley revealed that after a 20-month negotiation process with the religious bodies who ran the State's mother and baby homes and county homes, just one had made a cash offer of redress.
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