The Minister for Health has told the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse that a meeting with a child abuse support group was the catalyst for the Taoiseach's apology to those who suffered while in the care of religious and State institutions.
Mícheál Martin was Minister for Education in 1999 when the Taoiseach made the apology, and he said he advised the Cabinet that Mr Ahern should issue the apology after being deeply affected by a meeting with survivors.
He said members of the group looked him in the eye and said 'Minister, do you believe us? Say you believe us.'
Mr Martin said he had already formed the view that there had been a significant level of abuse and that there had been a general inadequacy in the response.
He said he was aware of the large numbers of people claiming to have been abused in State institutions. People also told him their stories at his constituency clinics and he had seen the Dear Daughter and States of Fear programmes.
He said there had also been several Freedom of Information requests to his department and he was aware that a number of people intended to sue the State.
The Minister also outlined how a working group was established to advise the Cabinet on how to deal with the growing number of complaints. It reported back to the Cabinet in 1999 and recommended that a national counselling service be created to assist victims.
Mr Martin has finished his evidence. The former Minister for Education, Michael Woods, will be questioned tomorrow.
