Cowen: Orders have “moral responsibility” to compensate victims

The Taoiseach has said that religious orders have a “moral responsibility” to do more to compensate the victims of child abuse in state-run institutions.

Brian Cowen was responding to questions in the Dáil today from Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny, who said it was time for political unity on the matter, and called for a united motion to express sympathy over what happened.

The Cabinet is due to meet this evening to discuss the findings of the report of the Commission on Child Abuse.

The Taoiseach said: “That moral responsibility extends to doing everything that is possible to ensure that contribution commensurate in some way - whilst not adequate, but in some way measurable - to the terrible harm that has been done to so many people should be forthcoming.”