Bishops discuss child abuse report in Maynooth

Senior Catholic bishops are due to consider last week's shocking report from the Child Abuse Commission at a meeting in Maynooth today.

There has been much confusion in recent days about whether the controversial indemnity deal agreed between the Government and various Catholic religious orders can be renegotiated in light of the report.

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has said it is not aware of any intention by its members to revisit the deal.

However, some senior churchmen, including Cardinal Sean Brady and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, have suggested that the religious orders should contribute more to the deal.

Under the agreement, the Government indemnified the orders against compensation claims in return for €127m worth of property.

The compensation claims now look likely to cost the Irish taxpayers around €1.3bn.

Speaking in Dublin today, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the Government was unsure about the church's overall stance on renegotiation of the deal.

Mr Lenihan and several other government ministers have already said they do not believe it will be legally possible for the Government to force a renegotiation.

The cabinet is set to discuss the matter tomorrow.