Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. In response to her questions, I have not spoken to Deputy Michael Noonan about it. I do not know if there are more Majellas out there: there may well be. I would have no difficulty apologising to those women on behalf of the State but I would like to know the facts and be able to answer the questions raised by the Deputy today before doing that.

This is a story that has very much gripped the nation in the last couple of days. I pay tribute to the RTÉ radio "Documentary on One" team for once again putting together a really fascinating programme that gives us further insight into our country and into our past. It is a true example of public service broadcasting and I want to recognise that here. It was deeply moving. It was almost unbelievable except that those of us who did grow up in Ireland in the 1980s can believe how it was true. What was done to her was wrong on every level. Her privacy was invaded. She was made to feel shame. She was pressurised to give up her child and the way she was penalised was deeply sexist when one considers that the man involved was only subject to a fine. It demonstrates to us how much our State and our country has changed for the better since the 1980s, and before, but there are many wrongs that have still to be righted. I very much welcome the fact that Commissioner Harris has offered an apology and that that apology has been repeated and echoed on behalf of the Government by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan. Mr. Harris will meet her in person and the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, has asked that he be involved in that meeting too. I think that is what should happen next. That meeting should occur between Ms Moynihan and the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice and Equality and, perhaps, we can take things from there. As she is the one at the centre of this they should be allowed to hear from her rather than us debating here what the next step should be. The next step should be for her and the Commissioner to meet, and the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, would like to be able to attend that meeting with her consent.

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