Any state inquiry to discover the extent of historic institutional and clerical child abuse in Northern Ireland should ensure perpetrators should be subject to "the full rigours of the law", health minister Michael McGimpsey has said.
As damaging allegations continue to rock the Catholic Church across Ireland, Michael McGimpsey proposed an investigation in the region similar to those that already have unearthed a litany of past crimes in the Republic.
Setting up an inquiry was one of a number of options included in a paper Mr McGimpsey forwarded to Executive colleagues on ways forward for dealing with historical abuse in Northern Ireland.
The document was handed to fellow ministers as the Catholic Church, and particularly Cardinal Sean Brady, continued to come under fire for the handling of abuse allegations that saw victims sign confidentiality deals.
On Friday, Pope Benedict signed a much-anticipated pastoral letter to congregations in Ireland outlining his strategy for dealing with the crisis in the Church.
It will be read out at church services across the island of Ireland at the weekend, although it is not known if the letter will include any form of apology.
"The issues involved here are extensive and complex and I have sought to reflect that complexity in the paper," Mr McGimpsey said.
"Our intention is to ensure that in meeting the needs of victims - whether by issuing apologies, establishing inquiries or setting up new compensation arrangements - that no victims are left behind.
"Important choices will now have to be made but I believe that action must be taken to address the pain and distress caused to so many victims."
The Health minister's recommendations come a day after the Church was hit with fresh revelations that two accused priests in Northern Ireland agreed to pay £45,000 and £12,000 respectively to their alleged victims in out-of-court settlements.
The legal deals include confidentiality clauses to which the Church has publicly stated its opposition.
© UTV News