Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Jun 2000

Vol. 521 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Abuse.

Tony Gregory

Ceist:

313 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Education and Science when his Department will be in a position to meet with the legal team representing the alliance for healing of industrial school abuse. [17376/00]

Officers of my Department are in regular contact with all of the groups set up to represent the views and interests of victims of abuse and former residents of institutions. I see these meetings as an important way of ensuring that the views of victims are reflected in whatever structures and procedures are put in place to help them. On a number of occasions solicitors have attended these meetings, including at least one such meeting with Alliance. I am not aware, however, that Alliance has appointed a legal team and I am not aware of any request from such a legal team for a meeting.

My Department has recently sought a meeting with the various solicitor firms representing people who allege that they were abused in childhood. The purpose of that meeting is to discuss issues relating to legal representation before the commission to inquire into child abuse and any other related issues. I hope that that meeting can take place in the near future.

Barr
Roinn