Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to Senator Martin McAleese. He was a valued colleague here. I was fortunate to serve with him on the Oireachtas Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. He worked tirelessly to build bridges between the North and South on many levels. He will be remembered for the memorable visit by the Orange Order to the Seanad last year. He will also be remembered for his outstanding work in chairing the interdepartmental committee that will publish a report on the Magdalene laundries this afternoon. We all know that the treatment meted out to these women was barbaric and in my opinion was unforgivable. The women deserve nothing short of a full apology and compensation for their distress and the appalling treatment that they endured. We have all read in recent days, and we all know, that the women were not guilty of any crime and many of them were held against their will.

Recently we heard about the conditions under which these women were held. I heard a poignant story at the weekend about one of the ladies who was impregnated while in the laundry. Her daughter has spoken movingly in recent days about the experience. I sincerely hope that the injustice meted out to these women will be rightfully acknowledged this afternoon.

Another group of women who are tirelessly waiting for justice are the survivors of symphysiotomy. The Walsh report was due to be published months ago yet these women are still waiting on that report. In cases like this, as in the case of the Magdalens, it is a double insult. We know the injustice that was done and the wrongdoing that occurred and it is a double insult when we do not do something about it. I call on the Minister for Health to publish that report without fail or to give us a definite date for its publication.