Dr. Maurice Manning:

It is.

We wanted a statutory inquiry to be held on the Magdalene laundries. However, we were also conscious that many of those involved were very old and tired. That is one of things that struck me very much in recent times about many of the leading individuals in the disability movement. They have been fighting for a decade and when they attend meetings, I can see they are almost exhausted. Things have not happened. I also felt this about many of the survivors of the Magdalene laundries, that they were tired. If the process offered by the Government could advance their case, we would support it. we have great confidence in Senator McAleese as the person to lead that process. We have already worked with him. We have been at one of the hearings and I was impressed. We have to bide our time. However, I would like to see a resolution and if this process achieves it, that will be it.

Senator Healy Eames spoke about progressive realisation, a very interesting concept. In the Irish Human Rights Commission we had great difficulty in figuring out how to make economic and social rights a reality. What are they and how do they operate in practice? We were very happy to join with Community Action Network and the Dolphin House project in looking at a situation which should never have arose. We asked ourselves if the economic and social rights of the people concerned had been breached by the way they had been treated by successive authorities during the years. After a public inquiry organised by them, with expert witnesses, we came to the view that their rights had been breached. I am sure Senator Hayden will have many such instances to offer in which the reality can be checked against abstract international standards. How do we realise the progressive realisation of these rights? I am very conscious of what Senator said Healy Eames in that regard.

I thank Members sincerely for inviting me and giving me a very warm welcome. I hope this House can be a harbinger for change.