May Press Releases

The Green Party has called for the immediate release of documents relating to the deal between the Government and religious orders which indemnified eighteenreligious congregations against compensation for abuse. Green Party Education spokesperson, Paul Gogarty T.D. said that recent revelations regarding Churchindemnity insurance begged the question 'who knew what and when'. Mr. Gogarty said today, "We already know that this deal, where the Church pays E128m in land and cash in return for the State guaranteeing to cover thecost of compensating victims of clerical sexual abuse in church-runinstitutions, is an extremely bad deal for the Irish taxpayer. Guestimates ofthe taxpayer liability range from E500 million upwards. What we do not know is'who knew what and when'.""The figures being touted for taxpayers liability are frightening. An even morebizarre development is the decision of the PDs to go public in disowning theirown Attorney General who was a central figure in agreeing the deal. The PDs arenow claiming that the deal could cost up to E2 billion so what did the PDs knowthen and what do they know now? "Mr. Gogarty said that the practice of taking our insurance by the Church startedaround 1987 and by 1990 most dioceses had taken out individual insurancepolicies. "Strangely, this is the time when the Church were refusing toacknowledge any wrong-doing on their part regarding abuse of persons in theircare. So the real question is 'who knew what and when'? For example what sortof questions were asked of the Catholic bishops by their insurers Church &General when they were approached about indemnity insurance? What sort ofcontractual arrangements were entered into? Unfortunately the Church havedeveloped a culture of being economical with the truth regarding what they knewabout victims of abuse in their care. Were they also economical with the truthwhen arranging indemnity against clerical child sex abuse?"

Press Releases February 2003
Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Residential Care Abuse Action Need To Save Tourism
RESIDENTIAL CARE ABUSE- 'WHO KNEW WHAT AND WHEN ' - ASK GREENS 06\|02\|03
The Green Party has called for the immediate release of documents relating to the deal between the Government and religious orders which indemnified eighteenreligious congregations against compensation for abuse. Green Party Education spokesperson, Paul Gogarty T.D. said that recent revelations regarding Churchindemnity insurance begged the question 'who knew what and when'. Mr. Gogarty said today, "We already know that this deal, where the Church pays E128m in land and cash in return for the State guaranteeing to cover thecost of compensating victims of clerical sexual abuse in church-runinstitutions, is an extremely bad deal for the Irish taxpayer. Guestimates ofthe taxpayer liability range from E500 million upwards. What we do not know is'who knew what and when'.""The figures being touted for taxpayers liability are frightening. An even morebizarre development is the decision of the PDs to go public in disowning theirown Attorney General who was a central figure in agreeing the deal. The PDs arenow claiming that the deal could cost up to E2 billion so what did the PDs knowthen and what do they know now? "Mr. Gogarty said that the practice of taking our insurance by the Church startedaround 1987 and by 1990 most dioceses had taken out individual insurancepolicies. "Strangely, this is the time when the Church were refusing toacknowledge any wrong-doing on their part regarding abuse of persons in theircare. So the real question is 'who knew what and when'? For example what sortof questions were asked of the Catholic bishops by their insurers Church &General when they were approached about indemnity insurance? What sort ofcontractual arrangements were entered into? Unfortunately the Church havedeveloped a culture of being economical with the truth regarding what they knewabout victims of abuse in their care. Were they also economical with the truthwhen arranging indemnity against clerical child sex abuse?"
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CO-ORDINATED ACTION NEEDED TO SAVE TOURISM - SAY GREENS 12\|02\|03
The Green Party has accused the Minister for Tourism of "working in a vacuum"when it comes to planning for the sustainable development of Ireland's Tourismindustry.Speaking in the Dáil at the second stage of the National Tourism DevelopmentAuthority Bill, the Party's Tourism spokesperson, Paul Gogarty T.D, said that"unless an integrated approach was taken between the Minister and his colleaguesin other Departments, notably Transport, the Environment and Agriculture,Ireland's long term future as a premium tourist destination would be 'irreparably damaged' "."We are turning into a filthy, dirty country which is over-priced,under-friendly and racist with our distinctive landscapes and seascapes being destroyed by illegal dumping and bad planning. We have illogical signposting,inadequate public transport and even when people find where they want to visit,too often they find access blocked by landowners. Litter is endemic across the country, alcohol-related violence is on the increase in our towns and thetraditional Irish welcome is in short supply, " said Mr. Gogarty.While welcoming the bill which amalgamates the functions of Bord Failte andCERT, Deputy Gogarty said that the same problems would remain under the newFailte Ireland agency unless coordinated action was taken. "We welcome the billbut we will not be supporting it because the Government have yet to show anyreal credentials for developing tourism in the long term. Marketing is all verywell, but we need to have a credible product to market. We have some wonderfulpeople working in the tourist industry and some fantastic places to visit, butthis is in danger of declining post-celtic tiger era unless action is taken toimprove access, end rip-offs and reduce overheads."
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