Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Government is to be commended on this initiative, on the priority it has given to the Magdalen survivors and the package of measures it has put in place. I welcome what the Minister has said today to the effect that he expects payments to issue in a four to six week period. Will the Minister explain the position of the enhanced medical cards to be made available to all the survivors? Has anything happened on that front? Given that the religious orders have declined, unfortunately, to make a contribution, will the money that is to form part of the compensation scheme come entirely from the Department's budget?

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