I welcome the announcement today that the mother and baby institutions payment scheme will finally open on 20 March and that the Government expects payments to be paid out in the second quarter. I welcome it, albeit with a delayed start of that application.

Related to that will the Minister please clarify where he is in relation to the special mediator, Ms Sheila Nunan, who was appointed in May of last year around the negotiations with the religious orders? Is a report ready in relation to that? Will the money that is, hopefully, handed over be used to balance the scheme, which has set an arbitrary exclusion of any baby under six months or any infant, which is totally unacceptable? There is a chance now to remedy that unjust system with the conclusion of the negotiations with the religious orders.

I thank the Deputy. The redress scheme will open on 20 March. All Deputies and Senators will have received the briefing on it today and there will be further briefings with more details on 20 March.

As for the ongoing engagement with the religious orders, I have been very clear that they have a moral obligation to make a contribution in the way the State is. Sheila Nunan is engaging with these orders and she has procured some financial services support in terms of being able to undertake an analysis and an understanding of the resources that are available to these congregations in the context of making a contribution. I have always said that I was not going to give a running commentary as I do not believe that is helpful-----

But you did.

-----but that work is ongoing. I do not have a specific date for the Deputy today but the work is ongoing.