Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the announcement by Government of the setting up of an interdepartmental committee to deal with the issue of the Magdalene laundries. I also understand the Cabinet is to consider the United Nations report in respect of the victims of those institutions. Will the Taoiseach indicate when the Cabinet review will be made public and brought before the House? I also seek an assurance from him that the interdepartmental review is not a mechanism to avoid a full statutory inquiry, as recommended by the UN. The women still await an apology from him on behalf of the State for the huge violation of their rights over many years.

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