John Gilroy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I acknowledge and welcome to the Chamber Ms Elizabeth Coppin and her husband. Ms Coppin is a former ward of the State and survivor of the Magdalen system.

We had a substantial and productive debate last week on Second Stage and have taken further steps to determine whether we can address the needs of the survivors and the perceived difference between what is proposed and what the survivors are seeking. We met a survivors' group last Thursday and met the Minister immediately afterwards. The assurance I received from the Minister went a long way to alleviate my concerns. In his response to me, the Minister of State might specify the differences, if any, between what the Bill proposes, what is recommended in Mr. Justice Quirke's report and what is contained in the legislative provisions of the 1996 Act.

To save the Minister of State some bother, I note there is no provision for alternative medicine and counselling is not provided for in the Bill. He has assured us that the responsibility for including alternative medicine lies with the Minister for Health, who is not disposed towards including alternative medicine in any medical card. We received an assurance from the Minister last week that her Department will create a scheme under which the provision of alternative medicine can be considered. I would like the Minister of State to comment on that and provide reassurance that I did not misunderstand what the Minister said to me last week. Perhaps we could put it on the record of the House.

My next point concerns counselling. Will a similar scheme be established in the Department of Justice and Equality to deal with counselling for the survivors of the Magdalen laundries, which would be outside the terms of the 1996 Act which specifies those suffering from hepatitis C?

Is there confusion about whether dental, ophthalmic and optical services are provided free of charge by a provider of these services in the private sector under the various schemes outlined in the medical card or HAA scheme? I would like some assurance that my understanding of what is proposed is as I outlined. It would go a very long way towards reassuring the House and survivors that the Government is doing every possible in the most generous way possible within the provisions of legislation and other provisions which may not be necessary to provide for under legislation.