Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2019

Tuesday, 8 October 2019

Ceisteanna (90)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

90. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) was informed that the review of the ex-gratia scheme is separate from the report that has to be sent back to the Council Of Europe on its implementation of the European Court of Human Rights judgment in a case which may take several months to complete in view of the fact that the ruling on this was that the ex-gratia scheme was not separate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40737/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

Following on from the ECtHR judgment in the Louise O'Keeffe case, my Department is required to report to the Council of Europe on a biannual basis on the measures it has taken to implement the judgment. The latest Action Plan which will be filed in October provides information on the measures that have been taken to monitor child safeguarding issues. It also provides an update on the determinations reached by Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill in his assessment of applications for the ex gratia scheme.

The review of the ex gratia scheme is ongoing and the Council of Europe are informed accordingly in the Action Plan.