merrion street

I would like to thank all of those who contributed to this important discussion since it commenced.

Last Tuesday, 19^th February 2013, was a very important day for former residents of the Magdalen Laundries. It was the day when the Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, acknowledged their hurt and apologised for their suffering as a result of their being admitted to and working in a Madgalen Laundry and the stigma many of them have felt throughout their lives. It was the day when the State acknowledged the extent to which time spent in the Laundries tragically blighted the lives of so many. It was the day when the State finally opened its heart and accepted its moral duty to those who felt abandoned and lost and believed they had no future.

I think it is important to remind ourselves again of the long journey taken by these women and to again thank them for having the courage, determination, tenacity and persistence over so many years to ensure their stories were heard. Despite the many obstacles in their way and all the difficulties they faced, they did not allow themselves to be dissuaded from their pursuit of truth and justice. Most importantly, the veil of secrecy surrounding the Laundries has at long last been lifted and it can never now be replaced.

From the outset, this Government, commencing with the appointment of former Senator, Dr McAleese to chair an Inter-Departmental Committee, was determined to address this issue which had been ignored for so many years. Again, I would like to thank Dr McAleese for his Report which chronicled the reality and harshness of life in the Laundries, the extent to which not only the State but Irish society was involved and which shed light on what happened within those walls and how so many of our people - citizens of this State - came to be admitted to and work in the Laundries.

I am grateful to Dr McAleese and the Inter-Departmental Committee which he chaired so capably. I would also like to thank those who assisted him, most importantly the women who experienced life in the Laundries; the various Government Departments and State agencies who co-operated fully and who trawled extensively through records going back over the decades which provided so much new information; and the representative and advocacy groups.

I also would like to thank the religious congregations who fully co-operated with the Committee and who made their records available. I realise these are difficult times for them too and it is important to recognise their co-operation and their contribution to this process.

As Dr McAleese pointed out at the very start of his Report, there is no single or simple story of the Magdalen Laundries. More than 10,000 women are known to have entered the Laundries from the foundation of the State in 1922 until the closure of the last Laundry in 1996. We must now address the needs of those still with us arising from the hurt they experienced during and due to their time in the Laundries. That is the intention of this Government and that is what we are doing.

Since publication of the McAleese Report, the Taoiseach has met with as many of the women who experienced life in the Laundries as possible. The Taoiseach, Minister Lynch and I recently travelled to the UK to meet with the Irish Women's Survivors Network who represent the largest grouping. Here in Ireland, the Taoiseach and the Tanaiste met with women represented by Magdalen Survivors Together and the Taoiseach met also with women currently living in nursing homes or sheltered accommodation under the care of the Religious Congregations.

Minister Lynch and I also met with representative groups since the Debate in this House on Tuesday of last week.

As was announced last week, the Government has decided to establish a Fund for the benefit of those who were admitted to and worked in a Magdalen Laundry and also those who worked without pay in the residential Laundry at Stanhope Street. The Government has appointed retired High Court Judge and current President of the Law Reform Commission, Mr Justice Quirke, to examine how, taking into account the McAleese Report, the Government might best provide supports (including health services such as medical cards, psychological and counselling services and other welfare needs) for the women who need such supports as a result of their experiences. It is important, not only to acknowledge the experiences of many of the women in the Laundries, but also to look at addressing their future needs. It is especially important to pursue measures that will promote healing, reconciliation and, insofar as possible, provide closure to them.

Judge Quirke has been asked to advise on the establishment of a scheme under the Fund including identifying the criteria and factors to be taken into account (such as work undertaken in the Laundries for no remuneration). He will advise on the operation of the Fund and, in particular, the nature and amount of payments to be made out of the Fund. He will report back to Government in 3 months time when a decision will be made on the detailed operation of the Fund.

Judge Quirke will also set the procedure for the determination of applications in a manner that ensures the monies in the Fund are directed only to the benefit of eligible applicants and not on legal fees and expenses.

Let me make it very clear that women who have already received payments under the Redress Scheme are not being excluded. There is one small area of possible overlap. I understand that under the Redress Scheme a woman who went straight from an industrial school to a Magdalen laundry may have received a redress payment for the period spent in the Magdalen laundry up to the age of 18. Justice Quirke has been asked to take this into account.

On Tuesday, 19^th February, contact details for the Magdalen Laundry Fund were made available to enable people to register their interest in being considered to receive benefits or supports from the Fund when it enters into operation. Again, these contact details are:

Magdalen Laundry Fund

c/o Department of Justice and Equality

Montague Court

Montague Street

Dublin 2

Tel. 01-476 8649

e-mail

web sites:

To date, over 700 women have made contact. This registration process will allow people time to gather the necessary basic documentation that will be required to verify their identity and their stay in one of the relevant institutions. It may also give some indication of the numbers who have an interest in such a Fund.

As announced last week, the Government has decided in principle to pay out of the Fund an initial sum to the UK Step by Step Centre for Irish Survivors of Industrial Schools and the Laundries. This payment will be made as soon as the legal technicalities have been clarified, and work is underway on this.

As I mentioned earlier, Minister Lynch and I have again, since last week’s Debate, been in touch with the Representative Groups. One of the issues under consideration is to have some form of memorial for the story of the Magdalen Laundries as we now know it. The women who spent time in the Laundries have been asked to consider the nature and location of a memorial they would deem suitable.

Minister Lynch and I will shortly also meet with the four religious congregations to discuss matters arising out the McAleese Report including the need to again access the records of the Laundries in the context of the operation of the scheme being put in place.

This Government commenced the process of addressing the issue of the Magdalen Laundries and is determined to see it through. We will try to do this as quickly and effectively as possible. That is the least we can do for the women who were admitted to and worked in the Laundries. That is what they deserve and that is what this State must and will do.

Thank you.