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As it happened: Enda Kenny questioned about compensation for sexual abuse victims

Stay with us for live updates from the Dáil.

IT’S WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON and time for another round of Leaders’ Questions.

Stay with us for live updates from the Dáil.

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Micheál Martin brings up how the State treats victims of sexual abuse.

The Fianna Fáil leader says he recently men a man who suffered “horrific abuse at the hands of a Christian Brother”, who was later convicted of abusing him and others.

Martin questions why this man has received “absolutely no compensation”.

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Enda Kenny mentions his previous meeting with child sex abuse survivor and campaigner Louise O’Keeffe.

He describes child sexual abuse as a “horrific crime” that victims have to deal with for the rest of their lives.

The Taoiseach adds that it “wouldn’t be appropriate” to comment on a case that he doesn’t have the full facts about, in relation to the man Martin mentioned.

Martin says seven of 210 cases before the courts have been settled, adding that survivors have been to “hell and back”.

Kenny says many more survivors may be yet to come forward.

Kenny notes that the State set up a claims scheme for victims of child sexual abuse in schools.

It was set up after Louise O’Keeffe won her case in the European Court of Human Rights in January 2014 after a two-decade legal battle.

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Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams is now bringing up Brexit and the impact this could have on Northern Ireland. Adams says the Irish government should not back away from its responsibilities in this regard.

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Kenny says he has asked every minister to engage with their counterparts in Northern Ireland.

He says a North-South Ministerial Council meeting next month will provide an opportunity for ministers to discuss Brexit further.

Adams is now asking if the government has reached agreement with the UK on immigration controls at Irish ports and airports.

He says this is his fourth attempt to get Kenny to answer the question and he has written to the Ceann Comhairle about his “refusal” to respond.

There’s laughter in the chamber when Adams says anything Kenny says “could be written down and used in evidence against you”.

Kenny replies by saying no one wants to see a hard border return in Ireland.

He says it’s not yet clear what will happen in terms of immigration and freedom of movement once Britain officially leaves the EU, describing these as “challenges” that need to be worked out.

joan

Independents 4 Change TD Joan Collins is now calling on the government to close tax loopholes that see certain people and companies pay less tax than they should.

Kenny says Michael Noonan has “closed many loopholes in his time as Minister for Finance”.

He encourages Collins to put forward amendments to the Finance Bill in relation to concerns she has about inheritance tax.

mhr

Michael Healy-Rae is now discussing the issue of moving people from congregating settings into independent community living.

The independent TD says that while independent living is suitable for some people, others need to live in centres with special facilities.

He says it is wrong to close centres such as St Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, Co Kerry, noting that some families won’t be able to cope without them.

Kenny says “good progress” has been made in terms of helping people move on from congregated living.

“The focus here has to be on the person concerned,” Kenny says, adding it is important to note “there is no imminent closure” planned for St Mary of the Angels.

He says the HSE is working with families to devise individual plans for people at the centre based on what is best for them.

Healy-Rae says facilities such as St Mary Of The Angels are centres of excellence and need to remain open to help families.

“Where are these people supposed to go to?,” he says, reiterating that independent living is not suitable for many people with profound physical and mental disabilities.

Kenny says he is aware of this, but adds there are other people in these centres who will have a “much better” quality of life if they move out.

He says people who do not fall into this category may still be housed in these facilities and will receive the support they need.

That’s it for Leaders’ Questions this afternoon, join us again tomorrow for another round.

Read: As it happened: Enda faced questions on strikes, public pay, and what exactly false imprisonment means

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14 Comments
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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:21 PM

    Which party was it that invited the Catholic church to play a central role, and gave them free reign in running the countries education system again Micheal?

    Oh yeah.

    16
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    Mute Brent Weaver
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:31 PM

    Not to mention that from the 1950′s, there are records that complaints were made to the Gardai, various ministers of both health and justice, doctors, legal firms, charities….and more. Yet the State still plays the “it has nothing to do with us, it’s the Catholic Church’s fault” card.

    The State is as guilty as the Vatican in all of this.

    14
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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Oct 26th 2016, 1:10 PM

    Anyone else tuning into that 1 hour of FG porn, Enda on Monday? Me neither..

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    Mute Poole Hyde
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    Oct 26th 2016, 1:18 PM

    FG porn? There really are some sick feckers out there. *shudder*

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    Mute William Clay
    Favourite William Clay
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    Oct 26th 2016, 1:29 PM

    FG porn? way to turn me off my beastiality videos

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    Mute Dj
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:04 PM

    Enda Kenny dodges questions..knob jocky

    13
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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:27 PM

    @Eyepopper, Which party let the Catholic Church get off nearly scott free regarding paying compensation to victims of sexual abuse under the instructions of Opus Dei member Michael Woods.

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    Mute Alan Baldwin
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:45 PM

    20 grand yesterday for a child getting locked in a classroom for 25 min and then the people that deserve justice for what happened them as children get shafted

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Oct 26th 2016, 6:58 PM

    @Alan Baldwin: So true Alan, as a 5 year old little girl I was locked into what I would call a dungeon in the dark and cold no shoes or socks, no food, no heat, no water after doing something wrong like not scrubbing the floor properly beaten bloody and terrified. Abused everyday and the government protected the religious from even an apology to their victims. And the fund set up for people like me by the Government called Caranua, refuse survivors of abuse even basic dental treatment from the fund.

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    Mute Marie Gunbay
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    Oct 26th 2016, 1:37 PM

    The Taoiseach adds that it “wouldn’t be appropriate” to comment on a case that he doesn’t

    have the full facts about………. I presume he meant to say that it “wouldn’t be appropriate” to

    comment on a case that I do have the full facts about because I much prefer to kick the can

    down the road. A more believable answer !

    5
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    Mute Wayne O'Fathaigh
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    Oct 26th 2016, 2:11 PM

    Well haven’t they invited the pope over in 2018? Maybe he can bring the cheque for the outstanding amount the church owes its abuse victims!

    Also wasn’t Michael in the government that signed off on that ludicrous deal with the church?

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    Mute Shakka1244
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    Oct 26th 2016, 12:39 PM

    Does this in any way make money for Europe or Enda’s mates ?

    If answer is “No” kick it into touch – not interested

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    Mute John Flanagan
    Favourite John Flanagan
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    Oct 26th 2016, 3:41 PM

    Just seven out of 210 cases being settled by compensation at present? I think this is disgraceful as it’s all down to the efforts of the last FG/Labour coalition, especially Ms Jan O’Sullivan then Minister for Education at the time, in making things even more harder for the rest of the victims to receive compensation capping at about over €80k at her proposal. I’m sure that Enda feels absolutely no shame nor embarrassment to this day when recalling about his meeting with Ms O’Keeffe about over 2 years ago.

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    Mute William Clay
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    Oct 26th 2016, 1:27 PM

    ‘..adding it is important to note “there is no imminent closure” planned for St Marys of the angels’. Right so out with the CVs, it’ll be gone by Christmas

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