Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2003

Vol. 574 No. 2

Written Answers. - Inquiry into Child Abuse.

Seán Crowe

Ceist:

213 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the media reports (details supplied) regarding a person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer forced to fly to Dublin from the UK to give evidence to the Residential Institutions Redress Board; if his attention has further been drawn to the reason the person's request, considering their serious illness, to give evidence by video link, was ignored; and his views on whether every facility should be given to persons who wish to testify to the board. [26667/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Dempsey)

Under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 the redress board and its members are independent in the performance of their functions. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in or comment on issues that are operational matters appropriate to the board.

However, in section 5(c) and (d) of the Act, there is provision for the board to carry out its functions having regard to the age and health of an applicant when determining the order in which applications are heard, and to ensure in so far as is practicable that hearings are conducted as informally as possible having regard to all the circumstances.

In relation to the case outlined by the Deputy, I understand that the chairperson and a member of the board travelled to Coventry to hear this particular case on Tuesday, 4 November 2003.