The resignation of Ms Justice Mary Laffoy as chair of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse came as surprise to the Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, he revealed today.
The Minister said he had consulted with Ms Justice Laffoy over the review of the commission's work announced yesterday and that he was aware that she had concerns.
But speaking on RTÉ radio this evening, Mr Dempsey said he was "completely and totally surprised" with the decision, which he said came "out of the blue".
"I didn't get the impression she wasn't happy," he said, adding Ms Laffoy's letter would be made pubic "within the next couple of weeks", as soon as the Government had formulated their response.
The Minister also said he understood the upset caused to victims of abuse by the news. "I understand they're upset, and they have every right to be, but I want to assure them that the investigation committee, in whatever form it will now take, will now go ahead."
Ms Christine Buckley of the Aislinee group said she was "devastated" by the resignation and said Mr Dempsey should follow Ms Justice Laffoy's lead by stepping down form his position. Mr Colm O'Gormon of the One in Four group expressed "despair and disappointment" at the development.
Mr Dempsey refused to be drawn on who the probable replacement for Ms Laffoy would be. He also reiterated he had no intention of resigning as minister, insisting that he had a duty to fulfil to the victims of abuse, the taxpayer and the public in general to ensure the review is seen out.
A short statement from Ms Laffoy issued yesterday said the reasons for her resignation were contained in a letter sent to the Secretary General of the Government, Mr Dermot McCarthy.
Responding to Opposition demands for a full statement and publication of documentation relating to the matter, the Minister said he would do so in the course of the next week after Ms Justice Laffoy's letter had been responded to.
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach must take personal responsibility for the commission in light of Mr Dempsey's "ham-fisted" handling of the issue.
"The victims of the abuse require no less than the Taoiseach take personal responsibility for this debacle and move swiftly to reassure the victims that ministerial mishandling will not get in the way of their achieving justice," Mr Kenny said.
The Green Party said the Dáil should be recalled to debate the problems that have beset the commission and how it should be proceed in the future.
"We need to debate the issues openly and honestly in the Dáil ... For the sake of the victims we need to look at new terms of reference that get to the bottom of the events that took place," Mr Paul Gogarty said.
Labour education spokeswoman, Ms O'Sullivan backed Mr Kenny's call for the Taoiseach to become involved saying Mr Dempsey's statement today was "an unbelievable example of contempt and arrogance".
"People who have been victims of abuse, and the community at large, are entitledas of right to know why Judge Laffoy has resigned ... clearly they [the Government] intend to cobble together some defence before publishing the Judge's resignation letter," she added.
The investigative work of the inquiry has been suspended following the resignation and Ms Justice Laffoy will leave her position once the new review of its work is completed in November.