The compensation that religious orders pay to victims of clerical sex
abuse could be based on the gravity of the crimes inflicted by their
members, it has emerged.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said he
is confident the 18 orders responsible for horrific child abuse in the
Ryan Report will meet a shortfall of up to 375 million euro.
But he revealed the level of responsibility could be assessed.
"There was some discussion as to the degree of responsibility each
congregation may have and it was agreed that they would be facilitated
in having that established with the redress board," he said.
"If each one of them contributes on that basis we will end up with an overall 50/50."
A small group of protesters picketed and shouted outside the
Department of Education as representatives from 14 of the religious
orders left after talks.
The Sisters of Mercy boycotted the group
meeting, while three others could not attend.
Mr Quinn said he planned to enter into bilateral discussions with
each of the orders, including the Sisters of Mercy, to see how each can
arrive at a settlement which is fair and reasonable.
The state is to cover the other half of the 1.36 billion euro bill
for clerical child abuse claims.
A 110 million euro cash fund to support
counselling should also be operational by January.
Mr Quinn stressed the state is as responsible for survivors, who he described as battered and bruised people.
"There is perhaps a sense that we collectively, and the media, are
focusing in unfairly on the religious congregations when in fact the
state neglected its responsibility as well," he said.