Cowen to demand orders pay half of abuse bill

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen will go into talks with the religious orders this week demanding that they pay half the cost of compensating and supporting abuse survivors.

The demand will be made after discussions with survivors who will warn him there are thousands of as yet unacknowledged victims who are entitled to help.

Mr Cowen will meet on Thursday with the 18 religious orders involved in the 2002 indemnity deal that capped their contribution to assisting survivors at just 10% of the €1.3 billion cost, and has signalled that he will dictate rather than negotiate terms for a top-up deal.