Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The Government shares the concerns of Deputy Lynch in this regard. However, the privacy Bill to which she referred does not include this type of matter within its scope. The Bill proposes the amendment of the civil law relating to privacy and would not apply to this area. The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Ministers met with various groups representing survivors of residential institutions on 15 April and aspects of this specific issue were raised. The Taoiseach, on behalf of the Government, stated that the Departments and Government agencies would be willing to help with further inquiries relating to those persons sent to Magdalene laundries, including, where available, access to files to the greatest extent possible.

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