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

When this Topical Issue was selected, I was not aware the Minister was not taking it. I mean absolutely no disrespect to the Minister of State, Deputy Phelan, who I know has a personal interest in this. None the less, if I had realised this, I would have waited until the Minister was available.

There are outstanding issues. For many of the ladies, the remit of the McAleese report was too narrow and there is a lot of dissatisfaction with that. There are outstanding issues regarding An Grianán and the memorial, on which there is a wide diversity of views. I met somebody recently who had been in an industrial school rather than a Magdalen laundry, and his view was there should be a day of remembrance for everybody who suffered abuse in this way.

From the Minister of State's reply, there will be outstanding issues for those ladies who live outside the country. I will put this in the context of one person in particular who I met, because she is like so many of the other ladies. She lives in the United States and came to Ireland some 18 months ago. When she was in Dublin, she came to Leinster House and I had lunch with her. She is an amazing woman, with a great character, great strength and resilience - a feisty lady. Her story was one of horror, hurt and disappointment. She now has health needs, so much so that she cannot come to Ireland this year.

I apply her case to the answer I have received and I find that she can either travel here to address whatever health needs she has, I presume at her own expense or, otherwise, she is just going to waste away. As I said, she is over 80 and has health needs. There is nothing for her in this reply, which talks of "exploring the practical arrangements to be put in place", and "When practical arrangements are in place, the HSE will contact those participants living abroad". That is not a practical solution to her situation. I know she has been watching the post to see whether she will be told of these administrative arrangements. From this reply, I can only express the frustration, disappointment and despair she is going to feel at this. We know of certain women in America and Britain, including the woman I have just mentioned. She should be a priority.

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