Cowen to meet 18 orders on Thursday

THE showdown between Taoiseach Brian Cowen and the 18 religious orders which signed the controversial 2002 child abuse indemnity deal is to take place next Thursday — a day after he meets survivors’ groups to hear their demands for an appropriate response from both Church and state.

The date was set as the 18 met in Dublin to consider their position amid the growing clamour for them to properly make amends for the suffering their members caused to tens of thousands of children in institutions since the 1930s.

Afterwards they issued a joint statement saying they were committed to making contributions that could offer further support and assistance to former residents, but also said they had to take account of existing commitments.