Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to return to a very significant and moving moment which took place in the Dáil on Tuesday, 19 February 2013. Part of its significance was due to the reaction of the ladies from the Magdalen laundries, who were present in the Gallery that day, to the apologies offered by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and others. During his apology, the Taoiseach stated, "I, as Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, the Government and our citizens, deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them". He also stated that the women deserved more than a formal apology and that he intended to put in place a process "by which we can determine how best to help and support the women in their remaining years". Those sentiments were echoed by other Members. There was a general feeling on that occasion that a process was going to be put in place and that all of the outstanding issues would be resolved. One would imagine that, one year and three months later, all of this would have been done, particularly for those ladies of very advanced years. It is most unfortunate that the reality is different. I wish to highlight some of that reality and then pose a number of questions.

As a result of the fact that inadequate records were kept in some places, an enormous burden of proof has been placed on some of the ladies involved. One would imagine that a much more flexible approach could be adopted at this point and that the ladies to whom I refer could be given the benefit of the doubt. However, the opposite is the case because it has been left to them to prove that they were in the laundries. The effect is that some ladies are being excluded from redress, while others are being offered less than that to which they might be entitled. There are those who feel so defeated by this extra burden they are being obliged to shoulder that it is like being back in the laundries for them.

An issue arises in respect of the institution known as An Grianan, which was on the site of a Magdalen laundry at High Park. There is no doubt that the women and girls at An Grianan did the same work as those in the laundry. They were referred to it by the justice system - on remand and on probation - and the health boards for protection. Some of them were as young as 11 years of age. A number of the women to whom I refer are not being compensated. I hate using that word because nobody can compensate them for what they endured.

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