Religious orders ‘running rings’ around government after one makes cash offer

By Cate McCurry, PA

The Government is allowing religious bodies involved in mother and baby homes to “run rings” around it after it emerged that only one order made a “serious offer” of cash to pay redress to survivors, the Dáil has heard.

Government-appointed negotiator Sheila Nunan led talks with religious bodies that were involved in mother and baby institutions.

The process was part of a bid to secure a financial contribution towards the cost of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme.

Ms Nunan submitted her final report to the Minister for Equality, Norma Foley following talks with seven Catholic bodies and the Church of Ireland.

In early 2023, former Equality Minister Roderic O’Gorman wrote to the religious orders asking them to contribute towards the redress scheme.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said that “going cap in hand” to the religious order was not successful.

“Nearly two years later, Ms Nunan has filed her final report stating just one order has made a serious offer of cash to pay redress,” he told the Dail on Wednesday.

“Going cap in hand to religious orders was not a successful strategy, hardly surprising, given we know these orders would much prefer to pay their armies of lawyers than the women and children that they tortured and abused.

“Religious orders that own assets worth hundreds of millions.

“Taoiseach, for decades in Ireland, unimaginable horrors were perpetrated in mother and baby homes.

“The infant mortality rate in these institutions was five times the national average, there were thousands of unexplained infant deaths, missing children and multiple mass unmarked graves.

“Women and children were subjected to incarceration, forced labour, vaccine trials and horrific physical and sexual abuse.

“Families were ripped apart, there were forced adoptions, and children were boarded out to act as indentured servants, and there’s never been any accountability for any of these crimes.

 

“Religious orders, who made millions on the backs of enslaving women and children are now walking away without paying a penny because your government is allowing them to run rings around you.”

He urged the Government to “flex some legal muscle”.

“It’s unbelievable that the approach of successive governments of these orders, which operated as criminal networks, is to roll over,” he added.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who has not yet read the report, said that the government will assess its options to pursue religious orders.

“Our view is that the orders have a collective and moral responsibility to respond to Ireland’s legacy in relation to mother and baby institutions,” the Fianna Fail leader said.

“As I said, we’ve just received a report on Monday, we will assess that report and then consider what options we can take from the law, obviously, in terms of pursuing religious orders in respect of the mother and baby institutions.

“We will see what’s the most effective way to get a contribution from the religious orders, and we see what options are available.”