Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Justice and Equality announced on 7 November that Cabinet had finally signed off on the Quirke Magdalen redress scheme recommendations. The Taoiseach will be aware that two of the survivors of the laundries have died since he made his apology on behalf of the State to those women. It is a pity we never had a full debate on the Quirke recommendations in this House. I have some concerns around the implementation team and how survivors living outside of the State will be treated, but my question for the Taoiseach this morning relates to the provision of medical cards to the survivors. When will the legislation to facilitate that come before the House? I note that the pension legislation is being rushed through this side of Christmas and I put it to the Taoiseach that, given the circumstances of these survivors, it would be appropriate that the legislation for medical card provision for these survivors be rushed in a similar fashion.

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