Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney has said aspects of the State's 2002 indemnity deal with the Catholic Church for damages arising out of claims by abuse victims were "unsatisfactory".
Under the agreement negotiated by the religious and the former minister for education, Dr Michael Woods, the orders, following the payment of €128 million, were to be indemnified for damages arising out of claims from victims.
The agreement was criticised at the time for leaving the State open to massive damages.
Speaking on RTÉ radio this morning, Ms Harney said she was bound by Cabinet confidentiality, but she
was critical of the manner in which the matter came to the Government and the extent of the indemnity given to the Church.
Ms Harney made her comments while stating her support for comments made this week by party colleague Liz O'Donnell on the special relationship between Church and State.
Ms O'Donnell on Wednesday called on Catholic Church ownership of almost all primary schools to be "radically addressed", and for an end to the traditional "deference" shown to the Catholic Church and to the "special relationship" between that church and the State.
The Tánaiste defended Ms O'Donnell's right to freedom of speech and said she strongly supported many of Ms O'Donnell's comments and "shared her views".
