Mr. Jimmy Martin:

Thank you, Chairman. It was in the context of An Grianán only that this issue arose about our interpretation and the Ombudsman's interpretation. At that stage we had said to the Ombudsman that it would be a matter for Government. We had no objections to raising it with the Government at that stage but he disagreed. He said it was not a question for Government, that it was a question for the civil servants operating the scheme. We considered at that stage going to Government about An Grianán, but the concern was that we were not sure how extensive his final recommendation would be. We knew he was looking at industrial schools and we did not know the scope of his final recommendation. In that context, we said we would wait to see what his final recommendation would be, so he would clarify exactly what the scope was. We did not go to Government at that stage. When his publication was finally reached, we clarified the full scope of that. We sent an information note to the Government but, under Government procedures, we have to work out the implications of implementing that recommendation, and that is what we are doing now.

On Deputy Daly's question regarding the 69 of the 73 people interviewed who got redress, it is not a black and white situation. In some cases we gave more than was sought because when we would have checked the records, we would have found that the period involved was higher than the people recollected. People knew they had been in an institution but they were not very clear about the exact period of time. Regarding the 69 women of the 73 interviewed who got the award, in those cases there was absolutely no written record of any sort beginning, middle or end and, in most cases, the women did not know the exact period. My recollection of the decision is that we gave them what was the average and they had a choice whether to accept that or not, or contest it. I cannot say for every case but where there was no parameter - I believe the average award was for four years in a Magdalen institution - we would have offered four years and it was up to them to accept it or dispute it. I am not aware of any who disputed the period of time.