Minister
for Justice Alan Shatter was today scheduled to brief the Cabinet on
the demands by survivors of the Bethany Home for justice, an apology and
compensation.However, a Department of Justice spokesperson said that to her knowledge, there were no plans for the minister to make a formal announcement today.
Last Thursday, Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil that a decision on a redress scheme for the survivors would be made this week.
On 25 June, the Taoiseach said Minister Shatter would report on the issue to the Dáil early this month. However no such report has been made.
The Protestant-run home in Rathgar in Dublin was for unmarried mothers and children who were often cared for by inmates who had been detained by the courts for infanticide, prostitution and lesser crimes.
The Bethany Survivors Group says children were mistreated in the home and suffered an unusual level of ill-health.
It says the State took on responsibility for inspecting the home under the terms of the 1934 Maternity Act.
The group also says they were often abused when fostered out to or adopted by Protestant families throughout the island.
Three years ago, 219 bodies of Bethany infants and children were found in unmarked graves in Dublin's Mount Jerome Cemetery. They had died between 1922 and 1949.
Yesterday, the group received the backing of the Northern Ireland Executive for their campaign.