Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Tá mé ag seasamh inniu le aird a tharraingt ar cheist atá i mbéal an phobail le fada an lá, ach nach bhfuil aon rud déanta ag an Rialtas faoi go dtí seo.

Today is the first anniversary of the Taoiseach's address to the women who survived the Magdalen laundries. In his speech, he said: "The Government and the citizens of Ireland deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them." However, one year on, the Government is yet to introduce legislation relating to the apology. Earlier this month, Justice for Magdalenes Research called on the State to immediately begin work on the Magdalen laundries restorative justice scheme. It said that survivors have still not obtained the redress called for by the UN committee against torture and it is gravely concerned by unacceptable additional delays. The Minister for Justice and Equality confirmed that "less than half the women have got their money and none has got their pension or health benefits".

Surely these women have suffered enough. Most are in the later stages of life and many are in declining health. According to the Government, the legislation is pending but this is of no use unless it is immediately enacted. These women have waited long enough for justice and the State owes them reparation. It is even more alarming that the nuns and religious orders that ran these gulags have yet to apologise to the women for the regime of terror and brutality to which they subjected them; this is a disgrace. No criminal proceedings have ever been taken against the orders or against individuals who committed crimes in their name. The Government's provision of compensation and benefits is not, and never can be, a substitute for establishing the truth about what happened in these dreadful places. I echo the call by my party colleague, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, on the Minister for Justice and Equality to clarify when legislation will be introduced to provide health services to these women.