Labour leader Ivana Bacik has urged the Government to enact legislation that would ensure religious orders are forced to contribute in full to redress schemes for abuse victims. Orders like the Jesuits and the Spiritans have already paid out millions each.

Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy Bacik called on Government to change the law before the next general election.

She said: “Any organisation which facilitates abuse, and even covered it up, must be compelled to pay redress”.

The Labour leader said the Government already called on religious orders to pay their share of redress, but added that appeals to moral duty cannot be relied upon.

She shared with the Taoiseach a Bill that Labour has drafted to ensure that religious orders will be compelled to contribute in full to redress schemes.

In response, “the Taoiseach confirmed that he would refer our Labour Bill to the Attorney General, who is already examining mechanisms to ensure religious orders pay up”, she said.