The Government expects the religious congregations named in the Ryan commission report to offer "a substantial contribution by way of reparation for the suffering of children in residential institutions" it has said.
In a short statement this evening, the Government announced the appointment of a panel of three people to assess the statements of resources submitted by religious congregations following publication of the Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse.
"The panel is to report to the Government as to the adequacy of those statements as a basis for assessing the resources of the congregations," the statement said.
The panel will be chaired by Frank Daly, former chairman of the Revenue Commissioners.
He will be joined by Catherine Treacy, chief executive of the Property Registration Authority and John Donnelly, former chairman of Deloitte and Touche chartered accountants.
"The Government indicated that while the panel is carrying out its work, it expected the congregations to be working to produce an offer of a substantial contribution by way of reparation for the suffering of children in residential institutions."