The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, appears to have ruled out alternatives to the Government's plan to narrow the scope of the child abuse inquiry to avoid the prospect of the hearings continuing for 10 years.
Although abuse survivor groups are set against the proposal to hear only sample cases, Mr Ahern said the notion of the hearings continuing for another 10 years was not acceptable. Such a period would be required to conduct individual trials of every allegation of abuse.
Mr Ahern has also clarified remarks he made last Monday in which he said he accepted the criticisms levelled by Ms Justice Laffoy in her letter of resignation. Despite this, the Government's response to the judge made it clear that it did not accept most of her critique.
On RTÉ radio yesterday, Mr Ahern acknowledged that the judge had staffing and resource problems when chairing the inquiry.
But he added: "The thing that I do take exception to is that we knowingly or intentionally did this. That's the only issue that the Government would take offence with. Not that she doesn't make valid arguments about staffing and resources. I can accept those things."
Mr Ahern said the Government was committed to the interests of abuse victims and survivors, but added that he wanted to see the inquiry's work concluded "as efficiently as possible".
He said the conduct of individual trials for each allegation of abuse was "maybe the only way", but made a point of saying that continuing the inquiry for 10 years was not "an acceptable way of dealing with it".
He said the Government would proceed with sampling only in conjunction with Ms Justice Laffoy's successor through the review of the inquiry.
Fine Gael's education spokeswoman, Ms Olwyn Enright, said she had grave reservations about the sampling option.
"We have to be sure that all involved are investigated fully. We cannot allow sampling if it allows any individual in a position of responsibility, or an authority, which may have had knowledge of what was happening, to escape investigation."
Ms Enright said the Department of Education should cease to be the sponsoring Department for the inquiry "as questions continue to be asked about the Department's own knowledge of incidents of abuse".
The leader of the Green Party, Mr Trevor Sargent, supported this stance. "The Taoiseach has consistently refused to accept that a conflict of interest exists where the Department of Education is in control of a commission which has to investigate officials of that same Department."
Mr Ahern said he did not believe he was a liability to Fianna Fáil after 57 per cent of respondents to an opinion poll in the Irish Independent said they were dissatisfied with his performance.
Mr Ahern's satisfaction rating of 37 per cent was his lowest yet, down from 41 per cent last March. He was not happy with the result, but said he would continue to work to the best of his abilities.
