'Moral obligation' on religious orders to contribute to redress scheme, says Foley
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There is a "moral obligation" on religious orders to contribute to any redress scheme for survivors of sexual abuse, the Education Minister has said.
A redress scheme is a key ask of survivors in a 700-page scoping inquiry report on allegations of abuse at schools run by religious orders, which was published on Tuesday. It found that many survivors "expressed the view that the religious orders should pay for, or contribute to, a redress scheme".
A redress scheme has not yet been agreed, but speaking on Tuesday, Norma Foley said that religious orders should be prepared to pay part of the bill.
"One of the key things" that survivors asked for was "accountability and respect", Ms Foley said, and publication of the report was the "first step" in this.
“There are many steps we need to take here. The principle and most important which is setting up Commission of Investigation...issues like redress will be looked at."
Asked if she is open to sequestration of church assets, Ms Foley said that the religious orders had engaged well with the scoping inquiry and she hoped that this would continue. She said that Mary O'Toole "did receive very significant co-operation from religious orders" and she would "like to think that going forward, this commission of investigation would see similar willingness to cooperate and to play the appropriate role".
Ms Foley also said that she was open to expanding any investigation to all of the 760 second-level schools in the country, but said that the Government would expedite any commission.
Ms Foley said the report shone a light on a "dark time" and "for the first time, the scale of child sexual abuse allegations in schools run by religious orders has been disclosed, based on information supplied by religious orders themselves, and by survivors".
She added that the level of abuse was "shocking".
"The level of abuse is shocking, it is truly shocking, and so is the number of alleged abusers.
"There were 884 alleged abusers in schools of 42 religious orders who currently or previously ran schools in Ireland.
“The scale and horror of what people described in their interviews with the scoping inquiry is shocking, and the lasting impact on the lives of those survivors cannot be overstated. I have been deeply moved by the courage, fortitude and openness of all those who have shared their experiences,” she said.