merrion street

Speech by Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality & Defence.

Minister says congregations have a moral obligation to contribute to the

fund established under Magdalen Scheme.

I would like to thank Deputy McDonald for raising this important matter and

for the opportunity to speak in the House here today on this issue.

My Government colleagues were fully briefed by me on this matter at our

Cabinet meeting this morning.

The House will be aware that Minister of State Kathleen Lynch and I

announced a scheme of payments on 26 June, 2013 for women who were admitted

to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, St Mary’s Training Centre Stanhope

Street, and House of Mercy Training School, Summerhill, Wexford. This

followed the publication of the report by Mr Justice Quirke, President of

the Law Reform Commission, on the establishment of an ex-gratia scheme and

a comprehensive range of supports for the women involved.

More specifically, the Government decided that a scheme should be

introduced for the benefit of those women who were in the Magdalen

Laundries. It was agreed that a Fund should be established for this

purpose and:

“to invite the religious congregations involved in the running of the

Laundries to make an appropriate contribution to the Fund as a

reflection of their desire to participate in the healing and

reconciliation process”.

There were four religious congregations involved in the running of these

institutions namely; The Good Shepherd Sisters; The Sisters of Our Lady of

Charity; The Sisters of Mercy; and the Sisters of Charity.

Minister of State Lynch and I met with the four congregations involved and

raised the issue of a financial contribution to the cost of implementing

the scheme recommended by Mr Justice Quirke. At our meeting we explained

that it was a restorative justice scheme and as such the Cabinet expected

that the congregations would contribute to the fund being established and

that we had been informed by some of the women who resided in the Laundries

that they believed the congregations should make such contribution. Some

perceived this to be part of a reconciliation process between them and the

congregations but of course this was not the perspective of all. The

congregations were given time to reflect on the recommendations contained

in Mr Justice Quirke’s Report and asked to respond to both myself and

Minister Lynch. The four congregations were also asked to co-operate fully

with the provision and checking of records held by them which is essential

for the implementation of the Magdalen Scheme and to make a financial

contribution to the cost of the Scheme.

The Deputy will appreciate that the full cost of the scheme is difficult to

estimate at this time. It will depend on the number of women who apply and

the duration of their stay in a Magdalen home. While information on how it

will apply and the possible range of payments and supports are set out in

considerable detail in the Quirke report, as accepted by Government, it is

expected to cost between €34.5 million and €58 million.

Regrettably, all four religious congregations have informed us that they do

not intend to make a financial contribution. I regard their response as

very disappointing. It is my view that the congregations have a moral

obligation to make a reasonable contribution to the fund required under the

Scheme and that view is shared by my Cabinet colleagues. It is a view I

believe that will be shared by a majority of people outside this House. I

hope that all four congregations will further reflect on the response we

have received from them and will again consider making a contribution to

the fund and reducing the burden imposed on taxpayers throughout the State.

It is important that I inform the House that all four congregations have

stated that they will continue to co-operate fully with the provision and

checking of records held by them and provide all the assistance they can in

this regard to assist us in validating applications made under the Scheme

and length of stays in the relevant institutions.

It is also important that I recognise that the congregations gave

unprecedented access to their records and fully cooperated with Dr McAleese

in his preparation of the McAleese Report. As we proceed to quickly

implement the recommendations contained in the Quirke report, their

assistance is crucial in supporting and verifying the applications of

former residents who now wish to apply for benefits or support from the

scheme. It is also important to remember that the religious congregations

are still caring for over 100 elderly women who originally resided in the

Magdalen Laundries.

Finally, I would like to take the opportunity to confirm that arrangements

are in place in my Department to process applications from the women

involved. A copy of Mr Justice Quirke’s report and an application form was

posted to all women who had already registered an expression of interest

with the Department. As of yesterday evening, 212 completed application

forms had been received and more are arriving by the day. These

applications are being processed as quickly as possible and I am happy to

say that the religious congregations are co-operating fully in the checking

of records held by them and are providing all the assistance they can in

that context.

Thank you.