Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is my question for the Leader. I have asked the Leader about this on other occasions and I have placed on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges a proposal that we look at the procedures of the House to ensure it is more gender-neutral and that we encourage more women to enter politics. The National Women's Council has done a great deal of work also on this matter and will be producing a report very shortly on how to generate and provide for a more women-friendly Parliament.

I call for a debate on the Magdalen institutions redress scheme in light of the very disturbing news today that the four religious orders involved in running Magdalen institutions apparently will not be contributing to the cost of the redress scheme set out by Judge John Quirke, which is estimated to cost in the region of €58 million. This is a most disappointing and regrettable stance being taken by the religious orders, who profited for many years from the unpaid labour - slave labour - of the many women and girls incarcerated in those institutions. We know the State was also complicit - there is no doubt - and it bears a heavy share of responsibility. However, the religious orders should be bearing some of the cost.