Mary Moran (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator Denis O'Donovan's call for a debate at the earliest opportunity in the new term on the issue of elder care and mental health services. The programme for Government pledged to take up the cause of people with mental health issues and to do all we could in this regard. It is only right and proper that we reflect on where we are and how best we can make progress.

I join in the congratulations to Senator John Gilroy on the launch of his book. He has put a lot of work into it and deserves great credit for it. I wish him all the best with his endeavours.

I refer to the issue of the Magdalen laundries and the refusal of the four religious orders to contribute to the compensation fund, as was announced yesterday. I find it extremely disappointing and insulting to the victims of the laundries. As someone who attended a convent school run by one of the religious orders in question, I am deeply disappointed. It is shameful that they have decided their only co-operation will be to provide information, records and care for people who were in their care. This decision is a huge setback. The Government tackled the issue of the Magdalen laundries for the first time and the apology given in the Dáil by the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste represented a great day for politics, but we need to do more. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, said on radio this morning that there was no way of insisting on them paying up. I ask the religious orders to reflect on their decision and do the moral thing. I do not think this compensation should be pushed onto the taxpayer. It would be a great day if the religious orders admitted their guilt. Their response has been extremely disappointing. While they have co-operated with the McAleese commission and made progress in respect of the Quirke report, their decision is deeply distressing. I ask that the issue be raised with the relevant Ministers in order that they will put their heads together to get the congregations to pay what rightfully belongs to the survivors of the Magdalen laundries.