Theft through Theocracy

One of the greatest scandals of recent times was the deal struck between the Department of Eduction, then led by Minister Michael Woods, and the religious organizations who controlled the institutes where the appalling abuses which scarred the lives of so many occurred. In effect the deal recused these organizations of the vast majority of their financial liabilities and transferred unlimited liability to the State, the reality is ordinary taxpayers have propped up these bodies and paid an outrageous proportion of the damages for acts perpetrated by their members. Certainly I would agree that the State must pay a portion of the damages, there were great failures on the part of those who were supposed to inspect these facilities, however the burden shifted to the State is beyond all belief. Today’s Examiner notes that the religious bodies shall pay a mere 12% of the expected claims and the estimated total figure of €1.1 billion to be granted by the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) is still being adjusted. For once I would fully endorse the words of Fine Gael Education Spokesman Brian Hayes, “It was probably one of the most reckless, incompetent and financially illiterate deals that was ever struck.”

A shameful mark on our nation’s history.

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Tags: Department of Education, Michael Woods, Religion, RIRB

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