Quinn: Meeting on abuse victims' compensation 'positive'

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has told a group of religious congregations that their responses to provide compensation for victims of abuse is "disappointing".

Minister Quinn invited 18 religious orders to a meeting today to consider the fairness of a 50/50 share in the cost of providing redress, an estimated sum of €3.6bn.

Three congregations did not attend the meeting. Citing the timing of the meeting, these were the Rosminians, Daughters of the Heart of Mary and the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity.

Earlier, the Sisters of Mercy also confirmed they would not attend the meeting, as they sought a meeting with the Minister on their own.

Speaking afterwards Minister Quinn described today's meeting as "positive".

"There was some discussion as to the degree of responsibility that each congregation may have," he said. "It was agreed that they would be facilitated in having that established with the Redress Board.

"If each one of them contributes on that basis, we'll end up, hopefully, with an overall 50/50 settlement."