Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----No. 8 is not relevant yet. I will state categorically what our job is here. Judge Quirke recommends that legislation be introduced to give effect to his recommendation with regard to the provision of health services. In his report Judge Quirke was of the opinion that the women of the Magdalen laundries should be provided with access to a comprehensive suite of health services. Judge Quirke's recommendation that the women receive medical services equivalent to those provided by the holder of a HAA card has been given effect in this Bill. However, he also stated that not all of the services described in the hepatitis C guide may be directly relevant to the Magdalen women and any comparable guide for the Magdalen women would require suitable adaptation. This is Judge Quirke's report. It should be noted that the services provided in section 2 of the Bill are precisely those recommended by Judge Quirke on page 35 of his report. I ask Senators to compare the Bill with the report. They include general practitioner services, prescribed drugs, medicines, aid and appliances, dental, ophthalmic and aural services, home supports, home nursing, counselling services, chiropody, podiatry and physiotherapy. All of these services are specified in section 2 and will be made available free of charge to the women who were in the Magdalen laundries. I appeal to Senators and those sending out press releases to look at the Bill.