Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I support Senator van Turnhout on this matter. We have tabled a similar amendment in respect of section 5. It has been brought to our attention that Justice for Magdalenes is extremely concerned regarding the welfare of survivors who lack capacity. The Government has decided to wait until the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill is passed before survivors can have a decision-making representative or a co-decision maker appointed to process their applications to the restorative justice scheme. The Magdalen women are of the view that until this happens, they will not be able to avail of the enhanced health care and other benefits available under the scheme. They believe that, in the interim, every woman who remains institutionalised in the care of the religious orders - particularly those who lack capacity - should be assigned personal advocates. The National Advocacy Service, which does excellent work, could be provided with additional funding by the Department of Social Protection in order to establish a small team of personal advocates dedicated to the Magdalen survivors. We call on the Minister of State to consider our suggestion in this regard. We all know how long - even with the best will in the world - it can take for legislation to be passed by the Houses. The age profile of the women involved must be taken into account. Obliging them to wait for the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill would just seem to add another injustice to the list of those already visited upon these women previously.