Committee to quiz Dempsey about Laffoy resignation

The Oireachtas committee on education is due to question Education Minister Noel Dempsey today about the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.

Mr Dempsey is expected to be questioned at length about the reasons why Justice Mary Laffoy resigned earlier this year as chair of the commission.

In her letter of resignation, Ms Justice Laffoy accused the Government of delaying and obstructing her inquiry into the physical and sexual abuse of children in state-owned institutions.

She stepped down after Minister Dempsey announced plans to change the remit of the commission so it could only investigate a sample of the abuse cases that have come to its attention.

The minister has since dropped the plans, which were sharply criticised by groups representing victims of child abuse.