Dempsey: 'Extra resources would not have helped Laffoy Commission'

Education Minister Noel Dempsey has claimed that extra resources would not have helped the work of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse.

The commission’s latest report, published by Judge Mary Laffoy last Friday, said Mr Dempsey’s department had failed to supply requested information because the resources needed to do so were not made available.

However, the minister claimed today that extra resources would not have helped the commission’s work.

He also said his department had other work to do and could not focus exclusively on meeting the commission’s requests.

Fine Gael subsequently accused Mr Dempsey of deliberately failing to understand or accept Ms Justice Laffoy’s criticism.