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	Anger over 2002 Abuse Deal Irish Health May 22, 2009 http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=15561 As shockwaves over the Commission on Child Abuse findings continue, the Government has said it cannot seek renegotiation of the controversial deal that capped religious orders' financial liability for child abuse victims of their institutions. The deal, struck in 2002 by the then Ahern Government, capped the religious orders' liability at ˆ127 million and indemnified them from all redress claims made by abuse victims in exchange for the money they agreed to hand over. The deal has been condemned in light of details of the extent of abuse that was revealed this week in the Commission's report. The architect of the agreement, the then Education Minister Michael Woods, said today he stood by the deal as the best that could be negotiated at the time. Taoiseach Brian Cowen said while the Government could not take legal advice on the agreement, it would not be in a position to force religious orders to make further payments. The deal meant that the religious orders avoided meeting the bulk of the cost of compensating the thousands of abuse victim, leaving the State with a bill of over ˆ1 billion. Mr Cowen said that the state would have had a contingent liability for compensation in any event. The Dail is to hold a two-day debate on the abuse report next week, amidst increasing pressure for the 2002 deal to revisited. Meanwhile helplines and counselling services have reported a major rise in calls following the publication of the report. Details on the HSE's counselling service are avaialble at...http://www.hse.ie/eng/News/National_Tab/‘A_safe_place_to_be_heard’_.shortcut.html Other services include - One in Four - 01 662 4070; Dublin Rape Crisis Centre - 1800 778 888 Samaritans 1850 609 090. A full copy of the Abuse Commission report can be viewed at...http://www.childabusecommission.com/rpt/pdfs/
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