I am very pleased to have the opportunity here this evening to discuss with
you the Final Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee set up to
establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries which
was published on 5th February last.
Much has been said since then and much has happened. For me personally, it
has been the culmination of a long journey going back more than ten years
when I first had an involvement with the issues of women who were admitted
to and who worked in the Laundries. I know what they went through and I am
delighted that the reality and harshness of living and working in those
institutions and what it meant for the women themselves is now there for
all to see.
As I recounted in the Dáil only a few weeks ago, I visited with them in the
UK on a regular basis and tried to offer whatever advice and support I
could. As an indication of how far we have come, it is worth re-capping
again a particular meeting that I had with them in 2003 at the Lazy Daisy
Cafe in Notting Hill where a number of concerns were expressed in terms of
the provision of services to Irish victims of abuse now living in the UK.
I wrote to the then Minister for Education in November 2003 outlining the
simple and reasonable requests of these people and what could be done to
improve their lot. These were just straight-forward matters such as the
extension of a Freephone helpline to the UK; updates in the form of a
newsletter; the provision of a fax and computer; the right to choose one’s
own counsellor/therapist (it was proposed that nuns and other clergy would
be involved in providing counselling which is somewhat incredible);
assistance with the phone; a speedier response to queries; and a
comprehensive media/information campaign. It was almost impossible at the
time to advance or progress those simply requests.
Shortly after this Government took office in March 2011 I had discussions
with Minister Shatter about what we could regarding the Magdalen Laundries
and we agreed to establish an inter Departmental Committee to look into the
matter. That policy decision was made in May 2011. The day before the
Memorandum was circulated to Government, the UN Committee against Torture
(UNCAT) published their observations which included at paragraph 21 a
recommendation that
"the State party should institute prompt, independent and thorough
investigations into all allegations of torture, and other cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that were allegedly
committed in the Magdalene Laundries ...".
While that UNCAT non binding recommendation was taken into account by the
Government, it certainly was not the driving force behind the decision to
launch the investigation.
We have all come along way since then and particularly so the women
involved, many of whom are now elderly, and never thought they would see
the day when the leader of this country would stand up in the Dáil and
deliver an apology on behalf of the people of the State. In that context,
the apology given by the Taoiseach on the 19th February last on behalf of
this State and the citizens of this State was both historic and
heart-warming.
I believe it was warm, it was generous, it was sincere, and I know only too
well how greatly it was appreciated by the most important people of all –
the women who survived these institutions. It underlined again the
determination and steel of this Government to deal with this issue from the
moment we took office, to right the wrongs done to these women in our name,
and to put a process in place which will now address those wrongs and
hopefully bring the much longed for closure these women have so desperately
wanted for so many years.
I would like too to thank former Senator Dr Martin McAleese for agreeing in
the first instance to independently chair the Inter-Departmental Committee
to examine the extent of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries.
Most of you of course worked alongside Dr McAleese in this House and
appreciate only too well his dedication and commitment to whatever task he
sets himself. I believe he was an inspired choice. We owe him a great
debt of gratitude for the report which he produced and which for the first
time laid bare the facts and extent of State involvement with the
Laundries, the lives of the women who resided there, and the traumatic
effects it subsequently had on them and their families too.
I also want to thank the women who came forward to tell their stories of
their experiences in a Magdalen Laundry and the effect this had on their
lives. Their stories were told with great dignity and, most importantly of
all, they have been believed. They have been believed by this State, by
the people, and that too has been acknowledged.
I would like to thank the representative groups who so actively and for
many years campaigned diligently on their behalf. I know only too well the
work involved – I long campaigned on their behalf - and I appreciate fully
the difficulties faced but which thankfully were eventually overcome.
We should also thank and acknowledge the co-operation given to Dr
McAleese’s Committee by the religious congregations who ran these
institutions. They fully co-operated with the Committee, provided full
access to their records, and assisted the Committee in every way possible.
While the last few weeks have undoubtedly been difficult for them, and
there has been much criticism - and rightly so - of the harshness and
bleakness of life in the Laundries, I think it is only right and proper
that we recognise their contribution to this process. Their co-operation
was essential in enabling Dr McAleese to produce his report and ensuring
the Government was in a position to take the next steps.
The Government is now addressing the needs of those still with us arising
from the hurt they experienced during and due to their time in the
laundries. We are not wasting time and we want to this as quickly as
possible. Since this process began, myself and Minister Shatter have met
and will continue to meet with the representative groups and many of the
women involved. This includes women represented by the Irish Women's
Survivors Network based in the UK, and women currently living in nursing
homes or sheltered accommodation under the care of the Religious
Congregations.
I am glad to say that the women themselves are very pleased with what is
being proposed and progress been made so far. There is an end in sight and
their ordeal is near over. While we may not necessarily agree on
everything, I can assure you that they are being listened to and their
views are being taken into account. Like the Government, their clear wish
now is for a non-adversarial approach – no lawyers or expensive legal fees
– but a fast practical and effective solution which meets their needs and
goes some way to righting the wrongs of the past.
As you will know, the Government is putting a comprehensive scheme of
supports in place to underpin a process of healing and reconciliation which
we want to encourage and promote. This scheme, the detail of which is
being examined by retired High Court Judge and current President of the Law
Reform Commission, Mr Justice Quirke, will be established soon. Judge
Quirke has been asked 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.
Judge Quirke has also 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.
A decision will be made on its detailed operation when he reports back in 3
months time.
I am confident this will make a difference for the women involved and I can
assure you the Government will not be found wanting in considering his
report. I can also assure you that the scheme will be for the benefit of
eligible applicants and not on legal fees and expenses. We have learnt
from the mistakes of the past and we will not be repeating past failures
with which we are all well familiar with.
I also want to be clear that women who have already received payments under
the Redress Scheme are not being excluded in any way. There is one small
area of possible overlap. I understand that under the Redress Scheme a
women who went straight from an industrial school to a Magdalen laundry may
have received a redress payment for the period in the Magdalen laundry up
to the age of 18. Judge Quirke has been asked to keep this in mind but the
Government certainly do not envisage that it will exclude such women.
The process of identifying the numbers involved and inviting expressions of
interest has already begun. Since last week, the 20th February to be
precise, the Department of Justice and Equality has received over [INSERT
NUMBER] contacts from people wishing to register their preliminary
expression of interest in being considered to receive benefits or supports
from the scheme when it enters into operation. As well as giving some
indication of the likely numbers involved, this process will also 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.
As I said already, I had a lot of contact going back many years with the
women who now live in London and the various support networks that operate
there often with limited resources and little practical funding. I know
only too well the admirable work undertaken by such organisations with
little or no financial support. To that end, I am very pleased that the
Government was able to make some provision to assist the UK Step by Step
Centre for Irish Survivors of Industrial Schools and the Laundries. This
will be made as soon as the legal technicalities have been clarified.
The women themselves have been asked to consider the nature and location of
a memorial they would deem suitable. I believe it only fitting that we do
so, and that we have a memorial which tells their story and to which we can
all subscribe.
I can also say that myself and Minister Shatter will be meeting the four
religious congregations shortly to invite them to make a contribution to
the Fund being established by Government. We be discussing the need to
have a process in place for survivors to obtain their records in order to
avail of the scheme being put in place. That will of course be essential
to the process of identifying eligible participants for inclusion in the
scheme and ensuring their claims will be dealt with promptly and
efficiently.
Finally, I would like to assure the House of this Government’s determination to continue to meet the needs of these women. It has been a long journey for these women and it has not been easy. It behoves us all to ensure we have a an effective process in place as quickly as possible, one which meets their needs, and which provides the fullest range of supports possible. I am confident that we can do this and, with the support of everyone involved, we will not be found wanting.
Thank you.
ENDS.