TAOISEACH Simon Harris has said the State will need "legislative mechanisms" if religious orders do not contribute to compensation for victims of their sex abusers in Irish schools.
The Government would be "not just asking nicely" that the orders contribute to a redress scheme to follow the recent report on mass-scale sexual abuse in schools run by religious orders.
"When people issue statements, and the religious orders did issue statements, statements of profound regret, one would hope that they would now do the right thing," Mr Harris said.
"But I want the Government's position to be clear, and I expect it's the position across parties in this House - that if people don't do the right thing, we do need to find legislative mechanisms to ensure that the correct thing is done."
He was replying to Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik, who said her party was introducing a Bill to compel religious orders to pay redress to survivors.
She said the Government should legislate to make the orders pay their fair share before a general election.
Mr Harris said: "You're asking me to give a timeline, which is not an unreasonable thing to do, but I do want to be honest. I want to get this right.
"Minister [Norma] Foley is, I think, handling the issue really very well and sensitively, very well and sensitively. You acknowledge the engagement she's had with Opposition, as she's had with survivors.
"I do think it's about making sure that the structures and the mechanisms we put in place do produce answers, healing, justice, accountability and appropriate redress.
"So we'll continue to work on this. I've no doubt when there's a general election, this is something we will all commit to - getting this right and working."
Ms Bacik said: "The religious orders have not done the right thing to date. Our Bill would facilitate civil proceedings against unincorporated bodies such as, but not confined to, religious orders.
"It would provide for the recovery of any damages awarded from the associated trusts of such bodies. I think it's a critical piece of legislation needed to ensure that we do right by survivors of abuse."
Ms Bacik also referred to the opportunity of "honouring those survivors of abuse by Bishop Casey who called for the removal of his remains from the crypt in Galway cathedral".
The Taoiseach agreed to refer the Labour Party Bill to the Attorney General for his consideration.
"I think that's a that's a sensible thing to do, and I want you to know there is an intense degree of work going on in relation to this."
He added: "The scale of this is alarming. Just in the scoping inquiry they were told of 2,395 allegations of sexual abuse involving 884 alleged abusers in 308 schools.
"The allegations were contained in the records of 42 religious orders, and included 590 allegations of sexual abuse in special schools.
"That that section of the report is is particularly harrowing and horrifying."