Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with the Seanad the final report of the interdepartmental committee set up to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen laundries, which was published on 5 February last. Much has been said since then and much has happened. For me personally, the report has been the culmination of a long journey going back more than ten years when I first had an involvement with the issues of women who were admitted to and worked in the laundries. I know what they went through and I am delighted the reality and harshness of living and working in the institutions and what it meant for the women is now there for all to see.

As I recounted in the Dáil only a few weeks ago, I regularly visited some of the women in the United Kingdom and tried to offer whatever advice and support I could. As an indication of how far we have come, it is worth recalling a particular meeting I had with some of the women in 2003 at the Lazy Daisy Café in Notting Hill. Visiting Notting Hill on a Saturday morning shortly after the film "Notting Hill" had been released was not a great hardship. A number of concerns were expressed at the meeting about the provision of services to Irish victims of abuse living in the UK. I wrote to the then Minister for Education and Science in November 2003 outlining the simple and reasonable requests of the individuals in question and indicating what could be done to improve their lot. These were straightforward matters such as: requests to extend a free telephone helpline to the United Kingdom; provide updates in the form of a newsletter; provide a fax machine and computer; and the introduction of a right to choose one's own counsellor or therapist. It had been proposed that nuns and other clergy would be involved in providing counselling and while the religious in question were all decent and good people, people will understand the reluctance on the part of the individuals involved to accept the offer. Other requests included telephone assistance, a speedier response to queries and a comprehensive media information campaign. It was almost impossible to advance or progress these simple requests.

Shortly after the Government took office in March 2011, I had discussions with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, about what we could do on the issue of the Magdalen laundries. We agreed to establish an interdepartmental committee to look into the matter and a policy decision to this effect was made in May 2011. On the day before the relevant memorandum was circulated to Government, the United Nations Committee against Torture, UNCAT, published its observations on Ireland, which included, at paragraph 21, a recommendation that "the State party should institute prompt, independent and thorough investigations into all allegations of torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that were allegedly committed in the Magdalene Laundries". While the non-binding recommendation of UNCAT was taken into account by the Government, it was not the driving force behind the decision to launch the investigation. It must be underlined that even if UNCAT had not reported on the matter, the Government would have established the interdepartmental committee.

Since then, we have all come along way, especially the women involved, many of whom are now elderly and never thought they would see the day when the leader of the country would deliver an apology on behalf of the people of the State in the Dáil. In that context, the apology given by the Taoiseach on 19 February last on behalf of the State and its citizens was both historic and heart-warming. It was warm, generous and sincere and I know only too well how greatly it was appreciated by the most important people of all, the women who survived the Magdalen institutions. It underlined again the determination and steel of this Government to deal with this issue from the moment we took office, right the wrongs done to these women in our name and put in place a process that will address those wrongs and, I hope, bring the much longed for closure the women have so desperately wanted for many years.

I thank the former Senator, Dr. Martin McAleese, for agreeing in the first instance to independently chair the interdepartmental committee to examine the extent of State involvement with the Magdalen laundries. The Senators present worked alongside Dr. McAleese in the House and appreciate only too well his dedication and commitment to whatever task he sets himself. He was an inspired choice to chair the interdepartmental committee and we owe him a great debt of gratitude for the report he produced which, for the first time, laid bare the facts about the extent of State involvement with the Magdalen laundries, the lives of the women who resided in them and the traumatic effects their experiences subsequently had on them and their families. With regard to criticism that has been made of the report, while it may not present the entire story from the point of view of history and academia, the report gave the Government the impetus to act and for this alone, we owe its author a debt of gratitude.

I also thank the women who came forward to relate their experiences in the Magdalen laundries and the effect these experiences had on their lives. Their stories were told with great dignity and, most important, they have been believed.

I thank the representative groups who so actively and for many years campaigned diligently on their behalf. I know only too well the work involved. I long campaigned on their behalf and I appreciate fully the difficulties faced, which thankfully were eventually overcome. We should also thank and acknowledge the co-operation given to Dr. McAleese's committee by the religious congregations who ran these institutions. They co-operated fully with the committee, provided full access to their records and assisted the committee in every way possible. While the past few weeks have undoubtedly been difficult for them and there has been much criticism, and rightly so, of the harshness and bleakness of life in the laundries, it is only right and proper that we recognise their contribution to this process. Their co-operation was essential in enabling Dr. McAleese to produce his report and ensuring the Government was in a position to take the next steps.

The Government is now addressing the needs of those still with us arising from the hurt they experienced during their time in the laundries. We are not wasting time and we want to act as quickly as possible. Since this process began, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, and I have met, and will continue to meet, with the representative groups and many of the women involved. This includes women represented by the Irish Women's Survivors Network based in the UK and women currently living in nursing homes or sheltered accommodation under the care of the religious congregations. It should not be forgotten that care is currently being delivered in a different space and way. It is important also, amid all the noise around expectations of an apology, that we do not forget Jim Smith, who single-handedly through his use of technology and research, drove this issue on. He has done us and the women who lived in the Magdalen laundries a great deal of service.

I am glad to say that the women are very pleased with what is being proposed and the progress made so far. There is an end in sight and their ordeal is near over. While we may not necessarily agree on everything - I am sure we will not - I can assure Senators that they are being listened to and their views are being taken into account. Like Government, the women now wish for a non-adversarial approach ? no lawyers or expensive legal fees - and a fast practical and effective solution which meets their needs and goes some way to righting the wrongs of the past. As Senators will be aware, the Government is putting a comprehensive scheme of supports in place to underpin a process of healing and reconciliation which we want to encourage and promote.

This scheme, the detail of which is being examined by retired High Court judge and current president of the Law Reform Commission, Mr. Justice Quirke, will be established soon. Mr. Justice Quirke has been asked to examine how, taking into account the McAleese report, the Government might best provide supports, including health services such as medical cards, psychological and counselling services and other welfare needs, for the women who need such supports as a result of their experiences. He has also been asked to advise on the establishment of a scheme under the fund, including identifying the criteria and factors to be taken into account, such as work undertaken in the laundries for no remuneration. Mr. Justice Quirke will advise on the operation of the fund and, in particular, the nature and amount of payments to be made from the fund. A decision will be made on its detailed operation when he reports back in three months time. I am confident this will make a difference for the women involved and can assure Senators that the Government will not be found wanting in considering his report. I assure them also that the scheme will be for the benefit of eligible applicants and will not be spent on legal fees and expenses. We have learned from the mistakes of the past and we will not be repeating past failures with which we are all well familiar.

I want to be clear that women who have already received payments under the redress scheme are not being excluded in any way. There is one small area of possible overlap. I understand that under the redress scheme a woman who went straight from an industrial school to a Magdalen laundry may have received a redress payment for the period up to the age of 18 spent in the Magdalen laundry. Mr. Justice Quirke has been asked to keep this in mind. The Government does not envisage that such women will be excluded. The process of identifying the numbers involved and inviting expressions of interest has already begun. Since last week, 20 February, the Department of Justice and Equality has received over 750 contacts from people expressing preliminary interest in being considered to receive benefits or supports from the scheme when it enters into operation. The figure of 750 represents first contacts and does not include everybody eligible to apply. As well as giving some indication of the likely numbers involved, this process will also allow people time to gather the necessary basic documentation that will be required to verify their identity and their stay in one of the relevant institutions.

As already stated, I have had a lot of contact over many years with the women who now live in London and the various support networks that operate there, often with limited resources and little practical funding. I know only too well the admirable work undertaken by such organisations with little or no financial support. To that end, I am very pleased that the Government will be able to make some provision to assist the UK Step by Step centre for Irish survivors of industrial schools and the laundries. This will be made as soon as the legal technicalities have been clarified. The women have been asked to consider the nature and location of a suitable memorial. It is only fitting that we would provide a memorial which tells their story, one to which we can all subscribe.

The Minister, Deputy Shatter, and I will be meeting the four religious congregations shortly to invite them to make a contribution to the fund being established by Government. We will be discussing the need to put in place a process for survivors to obtain their records in order to avail of the scheme. This will, of course, be essential to the process of identifying eligible participants for inclusion in the scheme and ensuring their claims will be dealt with promptly and efficiently.

I would like to assure the House of the Government's determination to continue to meet the needs of these women. It has been a long journey for them and it has not been easy. It behoves all of us to ensure we have an effective process in place as quickly as possible, one which meets their needs and which provides the fullest range of supports possible. I am confident that we can do this and, with the support of everyone involved, we will not be found wanting.