A member of the Public Accounts Committee has called for a controversial deal indemnifying religious orders against claims of abuse by people formerly in their care to be reopened.
Fianna Fail TD Mr Sean Fleming made the demand this afternoon after it emerged at the PAC that some of the orders involved in the €128 million agreement had recouped €6 million from their insurers.
This emerged as the Secretary General of the Department of Education, Mr John Dennehy, answered questions from committee members today.
Mr Fleming told ireland.com he wanted the religious orders involved to come before the committee "as a matter of urgency". He also wanted the Attorney General to advise the Government on whether the insurance claims by the religious orders "change the whole basis" of how the deal was negotiated because the State had not previously been aware of the claims.
When the deal was negotiated several years ago, the State granted 18 religious congregations indemnity against all current and future compensation claims for abuse and neglect in industrial schools and orphanages.
In return for that indemnity, they gave the Government €40 million in cash and €77 million in property transfers. However, the entire value of the property transfers has not yet been redeemed as the State is still considering the suitability of some of the properties offered.
The Government established the Residential Institutions Redress Board to compensate victims of abuse and the body has received more than 2,100 applications so far, more than was originally estimated. An average award of €80,000 has been made in fewer than 300 cases settled. Payments ranged from €10,000 to €250,000.