Residential Institutions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 April 2014

Tuesday, 15 April 2014

Questions (462, 500)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

462. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the request that he undertake a review of the evidence with respect to State responsibility in the matter of Bethany Home, with a view to establishing redress analogous or comparable to that for the victims of institutional residential abuse or that concerning the Magdalen laundries, has been made to his Department; if so, the date on which it was made; by whom that request was made; and to whom in his Department the request was directed. [18056/14]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

500. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he has received any communication from the Department of An Taoiseach or the Department of Education and Skills since 3 April 2014 with respect to the issue of a review of the evidence of State responsibility in the case of the Bethany Home; if he will undertake this review; the terms of the review and the timeframe within which he will report on the results; and where he intends to publish these results and any decision or decisions arising therefrom. [18054/14]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 500 together.

The Taoiseach has forwarded to my office his response to you dated 4 April 2014 and I am aware of the comments made by the Minister for Education and Skills.

I have no plans to undertake a review of the matter in question and wrote to my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills seeking clarification in relation to the issue.

The Minister for Education and Skills has replied to me indicating that having reviewed the papers in 2011, and taking all the circumstances into account, he found no basis to revisit the decision of the previous Government not to include any further institutions within the Residential Institutions Redress Scheme. The position therefore remains as indicated by the Government's Statement of 23 July, 2013.