Susan O'Keeffe (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. Like other speakers I thank her for the work she has done and her unfailing belief in the women who were treated in this way. She never gave up. When she went into government she worked even harder on the issue. We are all grateful to be present for the debate as it is a sign that we have moved on.

I wish to start my contribution with a quote. ?As a class the majority of these girls spring from the ordinary labouring family, some from the decent small farmer, a few from the riff-raff of the small back street population...[and] the majority of cases come from country districts, often from isolated places in the west.? That is a 1941 description of women, particularly young women who appeared before the Central Criminal Court for infanticide, murder, concealment of birth and other crimes. The language from 1941 indicates how women were viewed, particularly young pregnant women. It was written by a probation officer. His report talks about "fallen women", "moral decadence", "immoral character" and "neglect of essential moral training". Although the short report, which I have to hand, does discuss the need for care and support for women, the overall thrust of the report is that this is a group of unfortunate women who need punishment and then perhaps some guidance. The document appears in the appendices of the Magdalen report. I am drawn to it because it is of the time. It is official Ireland showing its views, attitude and use of language. It tells the story of how women, young women and girls were viewed and ultimately how they were treated. The fact that Ireland had signed up and continued to sign up to various conventions under international law, unfortunately, did not stop us treating people with contempt. In a way the report encapsulates that. This is at the heart of what I describe as Ireland, the lock-up State ? industrial schools, county homes, psychiatric hospitals, mother and baby homes, poor houses and Magdalen laundries. We seem to be a lock-up State.

Even though the words of the probation officer were written about those who appeared in court, they clearly speak for the women in the Magdalen laundries too. They were something of a problem, a kind of nuisance, something to be dismissed. Whether there were ten, 100, 11,000 or 30,000, that was the view that was taken. We are pleased that we have moved on from 1941. We have made progress. Unfortunately, it was the women themselves who having been dismissed once before as a kind of riff-raff, who had to face yet again being dismissed, except this time they stood their ground. They fought the fight and they won. They won more than an apology, not just compensation or perhaps the right to become involved in a redress scenario, or even a memorial ? all of those facts are incredibly important, but most important, they won the right to speak as equals, to be listened to and to know that they matter. That is a huge achievement and I welcome and applaud it because it shows that we are growing up as a society. We are accepting that old ways were not right or fair. We are beginning to acknowledge our past and our grave mistakes.

It is unfortunately a painfully slow process, to which those women and many others will testify. In many ways it cannot be speeded up because there is so much to move and shift, so many attitudes to change, so many people set in their ways and yet that is the clear challenge to Mr. Justice Quirke, the Ministers involved and the officials. The next stage of the process is as important as this first step of apology. It will be important to have patience, as the women have shown they had, but it is equally important that after the next three months Mr. Justice Quirke will set out a clear path for how those precious, wonderful women will be helped. The Department of Justice and Equality will need to appoint a central point of contact who can assist, direct and advise women in this uncertain time for them. Some might need an independent advocate. Many speakers have referred to the women overseas, who must not be left out, and more importantly, must not be constrained by time ? that if they come forward in the future that they will not be told that there was a time constraint.

There are many other matters relating to the way women are treated now and due care must be taken that the process is transparent, not dragged out for months or years and that provision is made for medical and housing needs. Justice for Magdalenes has put together a clear list of needs. I am sure the Minister of State is more than aware of it. That should be heeded and taken into account by everyone setting out the next course of action. The warnings about redress failure should also be heeded.

Finally, we must decide whether to pursue the entire story of the Magdalens, to tell the whole truth, not just the version of the truth that is found in the McAleese report. Good as it was, the report is limited. I refer to the hard labour, pain, abuse, silence and the disgraceful behaviour. I believe we should gather the whole story.

One could ask what we should do about the women who are still fighting for various causes, fighting for justice and truth. Could we find a way to ensure that those involved in the fights for people who have suffered injustice do not have to sacrifice their lives and fight for their rights? This is a democracy and a so-called civilised society so perhaps some kind of permanent commission of inquiry, as previously called for by my colleague, Senator Aideen Hayden, might be an answer and might reduce the pain and adversarial approach we have come to recognise among the groups that are fighting for what is only their right.

These are women; they are not Magdalen women. That label has been attached to them for far too long and it is over time to remove it. I applaud them all and those who worked tirelessly with them and on their behalf. As another woman, I add my apology for the hurt they have suffered throughout their life at the hands of the State and us, the people of this State.