The appointment of Mr Seán Ryan SC as chairman of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse has been warmly welcomed by survivor groups.
Representatives of religious congregations were not available to comment last night.
Mr Paul Moloney of the Right of Place group said it was "delighted" at the news. He said the Compensation Advisory Committee report, prepared under Mr Ryan's chairmanship before the Redress Board was established, was "one of the best reports done around the issue" of abuse in residential institutions.
Survivors who dealt with him then felt that for the first time someone really understood. "He's the right man for the job," he said. Mr Tom Hayes of the Alliance group said Mr Ryan was "a marvellous man. If anyone can cut through the administrative and legal jargon that tied up Justice Laffoy it is him," he said.
Mr Mick Waters of SOCA (UK) said reports about Mr Ryan had been "absolutely excellent". Mr Waters's only concern was whether the Government would allow Mr Ryan do his job.
Mr John Kelly of Irish SOCA said members had found Mr Ryan to be "open, honest and attentive to what we had to say" in their dealings with him. He hoped Mr Ryan could find a way to bring his group into the process.
Mr Colm O'Gorman of One in Four said: "We have experience of his work as senior counsel to the Ferns inquiry where we have been impressed by his professionalism and direct approach."
The Green Party spokesman on education, Mr Paul Gogarty, felt Mr Ryan's appointment was "untimely" and "premature" given that the outgoing chair of the abuse commission, Ms Justice Laffoy, would not present her report until November.
Meanwhile, it was confirmed yesterday that Mr Tom Boland, director of strategic planning at the Department of Education and Science, has been appointed chief executive officer of the Higher Education Authority. He will succeed Mr John Hayden in the post at the end of the year.
Mr Boland was a prominent figure in the Department's dealings with religious congregations leading to last year's €128 million indemnity deal. He has also been central to the Department's dealings recently with survivor groups.
