Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Senator Bacik raised the question of the Mangan report as did Senator O'Brien. The Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, will be here to speak on the Mangan report next week.

Senator Leyden raised the issue of redress and I have referred to the appointment of Mr. Justice Quirke in this regard.

It is time to have such a debate on scrubbing away our nation's shadows. That would be a good title for such a debate because for too many years we put away our conscience and not just alone on this issue. As well as doing a great service to the women who were in the Magdalen laundries and what they suffered as demonstrated in the report, such a debate would help Ireland's conscience to realise the Ireland we thought we had was all a shadow.

I am proud to be a member of a party that has a leader such as Deputy Enda Kenny who showed his compassion, that he is real and that he cares. He has done for the country, his people and the Magdalen people a magnificent job. I also want to pay tribute to Deputy Martin who had the guts to stand up-----