Calls for Taoiseach to lift veil on church deal

The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Pat Rabbitte this afternoon called on the Taoiseach to lift what he described as "the veil of government-imposed secrecy" on the deal between the State and the Religious Congregations on compensation for victims of child abuse in residential institutions.

Speaking to members of Labour Party Youth in Galway this afternoon, he expressed his concern at the "unlimited exposure" of the taxpayers."

"There can rarely before have been a deal of such potential significance to the taxpayer in respect of which so little information has been made available," he said.

Mr Rabitte said the Government seemed determined to "pull down the shutters and suppress the full story" and of the deal.

Earlier this week the Government refused to release more than 140 documents, including valuations of church property, relating to the controversial compensation deal under the Freedom of Information Act, citing a wide range of exemptions.

Among these is that releasing the property valuations would be "commercially sensitive".

Under the Indemnity Agreement signed by the religious and the previous minister for education, Dr Michael Woods, the orders, following the payment of euro 128 million, are indemnified for damages arising out of claims by victims.

The agreement has been criticised for leaving the State open to massive damages. Although it is not certain how many victims will eventually take cases, estimates have ranged from between 3,000 and 10,000.

"It must be emphasised," Mr Rabbitte said, "that nobody is disputing the right to compensation of those who suffered so cruelly. Neither is there any dispute that the State should share liability for settling the claims for compensation. What is at issue here is the balance struck in the deal, as a result of which the Congregations are likely to be responsible for such a small proportion of the final bill.

"Resources available to the Congregations are finite, but how did it come about that they have a nailed-down, definite liability, but the taxpayer has unlimited exposure as a result of the reckless and unprecedented nature of the indemnity," Mr Rabbitte asked.