Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this important matter and for the opportunity to speak in the House here today on this issue. The Deputy knows that when I took up office, I was determined that we would address the issue of the Magdalen laundries and the position of the former residents. My Government colleagues were fully briefed by me on today's matter at our Cabinet meeting this morning.

The House will be aware that the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, equality and mental health, Deputy 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 - the Good Shepherd Sisters, the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, the Sisters of Mercy and the Sisters of Charity. The Minister of State 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. We met with them before and subsequent to the publication of Mr. Justice Quirke's report. 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 were asked to respond to both me and the Minister of State, Deputy 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 the Government, it is expected to cost between €34.5 million and €58 million.

Regrettably, all four religious congregations have informed us they do not intend to make a financial contribution. I regard their response as very disappointing. It is my view the congregations have a moral obligation to make a reasonable contribution to the fund required under the scheme and this view is shared by all my Cabinet colleagues. It is a view I believe will be shared by a majority of people outside this House. I hope 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 I inform the House that all four congregations have stated they will continue to co-operate fully with the provision and checking of records held by them and to 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 I recognise the congregations gave unprecedented access to their records and fully co-operated with Dr. McAleese in his preparation of his 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 wish to apply for benefits or support from the scheme. It is also important to note the religious congregations still care for more than 100 elderly women who originally resided in the Magdalen laundries.

I would like to take the opportunity to confirm that arrangements are in place in the Department to process applications from the women involved. A copy of Mr. Justice Quirke's report, together with an application form, was posted to all women who had 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 state the religious congregations are co-operating fully in the checking of records held by them and are providing all the assistance they can in this context.

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