Vol. 501 No. 4
92 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of cases alleging child sexual or physical abuse while in the care of the State or church run institutions to which he is a party; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6362/99]
Proceeedings initiated by persons formerly resident in the type of institutions referred to by the Deputy where sexual or physical abuse is alleged are normally made against the religious order concerned and the State. The State parties normally include a number of Government Ministers who are being sued in their capacity as a corporation sole. I am aware of 39 notifications of intended proceedings which are primarily directed at the Minister for Health and Children as the main State respondent. As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Education and Science and, to a lesser extent, the Minister for Justice, Education and Law Reform are also being sued – again in their capacities as corporations sole – and the Minister for Health and Children is also joined in many of these proceedings.
A further complication is that some of the plaintiffs are intending proceedings in respect of more than one institution. In these circumstances, I am not in a position to give a complete answer to the Deputy's question.
