Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:“(2) That within 1 month of enactment of this legislation the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will independently verify, in a report laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, that the legislation does indeed fully and faithfully implement the relevant recommendations contained within the Magdalen Commission Report on the establishment of an ex-gratia Scheme and related matters for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, authored by Mr Justice John Quirke and published in May 2013.”.

The importance of this amendment is underpinned by what has been already stated during this debate. While the Minister of State may take issue with the words used, it is obvious that we all want to do the best for the women involved in a timely fashion. We also want to see to it that once the legislation has been passed, there will be a mechanism in place to ensure that what is promised will be delivered within a suitable timeframe. We are of the view that the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission can be trusted to independently verify that what has been said will be done and that the provisions of the legislation will be implemented. That is why amendment No. 8 has been put forward and we hope that all Senators and the Minister of State will support it.