Check against delivery Topical Issue Debate 16 July, 2013The need to provide details on the refusal of the four religiouscongregations that ran the Magdalene laundries to make any financialcontribution to the compensation fund recently by the Government to provideredress to the surviving women. Mary Lou McDonaldSpeech 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.