Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

The State's contention in respect of these women is that they were in the laundries voluntarily and that the State has no liability or responsibility on the basis that these were private institutions. The State has not acquitted itself well, whatever the recommendation from the UN. The State has failed these women. This is not a new issue; the matter of the women in the Magdalene laundries has been around for quite some time. We all know how grievously wronged these women have been. We are all aware of the grave social taboo they and their families have carried because of their incarceration in these institutions and their treatment there. The Minister for Justice and Equality may well be preparing a memorandum. However, as I understood, the Minister, Deputy Shatter, had given a commitment that this matter would be brought before the House before 7 June.

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