Abuse commission – Deal raises questions

It seems strange that the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse did not take the opportunity to quiz former Education Minister Michael Woods about the extraordinary details of the financial deal he concluded with religious orders.

He was before the Commission yesterday and it would have appeared the appropriate forum to inquire of him why he signed an agreement for a redress scheme without the knowledge of the Department of Justice or the Attorney General’s office.

The deal which the former minister agreed for abuse victims controversially obliged the religious congregations only to make a €128 million contribution, leaving the bulk of the financial burden on the State.