Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Darragh O'Brien's appreciation of the Taoiseach's fine apology on behalf of the State and all of us for the neglect of those women in the Magdalen laundries. It is well-timed and certainly very sincere. I went into the Chamber to see it and during my years there, I never experienced such emotion both on the floor of the House and in the Gallery. The fact that a standing ovation was given to those victims and survivors of the Magdalen laundries was very much appreciated by all concerned. The appointment of Mr. Justice John Quirke to assess the situation is very welcome. He has a three-month mandate to come up with recommendations and should consider the families of the victims who have died and who have suffered as a result of their mothers being resident in those institutions. They should also receive consideration.

I also recognise the fact that the Leader of the Opposition on behalf of every Member of the House recognised the gesture and decision of the Government and Taoiseach and was a member of the Government that set up the redress board for those young students in reformatories. They must ensure that the lawyers will not receive the money they received from the redress board. The lawyers made more money than those poor victims of institutions like Letterfrack, which is certainly a blight on Ireland. I hope whatever is done is done speedily because some of these women are of senior age. I hope we will have a debate next week on this issue and tease out this situation. From an Irish perspective, it is very timely and should have been done a long time ago but it should never have happened in the first place. We have now reached a stage where the Taoiseach on behalf of the Government has given that apology and action is being taken to give those women some form of compensation or support. I second the amendment by the Leader of the Opposition.