Abuse deal queries 'out of order'

Persistent attempts by the Opposition to question the Tánaiste about the negotiation of the controversial indemnity deal with religious congregations were ruled out of order in the Dáil yesterday.

The Ceann Comhairle, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, refused to allow the questioning about the row over the deal, despite repeated attempts by Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party.

The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, who was attorney general at the time the deal was concluded, has said he was excluded from key negotiations and he criticised the Government for how the deal was reached - directly contradicting the view of the former minister for education, Dr Michael Woods.

Mr Woods said Mr McDowell was involved at all appropriate times. The Taoiseach has backed Dr Woods but praised Mr McDowell.

When Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte asked if the Tánaiste believed "the Taoiseach or the Minister for Justice", the Ceann Comhairle said the matter did not arise.

Raising the issue, Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny asked why the Tánaiste had not commented on the "serious rift between the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Taoiseach on the handling of the business of the Laffoy commission to date".

Mr John Gormley (Green, Dublin South East) asked the Tánaiste to "outline her party's position".

Dr O'Hanlon said the matter had been discussed in a full day's debate and questions on Wednesday in the House, and was coming before the Public Accounts Committee.

Mr Kenny asked when the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Bill would be introduced, and asked for a guarantee from Ms Harney that procedures would be in place to ensure that "no one is excluded on this occasion" and that the Bill would be dealt with "fully and properly".

Ms Harney said the legislation would not be ready before the spring of next year.

The Minister for Education had to wait for the independent review by the new chairman of the commission, Mr Seán Ryan SC, and the outcome of the Christian Brothers case, currently before the Dáil.

Mr Rabbitte said that on a matter of legislation, "I do not see why the Chair will not permit the Tánaiste to say whom she believes", to which the Ceann Comhairle replied that it had been dealt with at length.