Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, has published a report on the administration of the Magdalen laundries redress scheme by the Department of Justice and Equality. The report vindicates what survivors and campaigners have been saying about inadequacies and failures in the delivery of the scheme. It seems from the report that women were denied access to the redress scheme as a result of serious irregularities within the Department of Justice and Equality. Over the course of a year, the Ombudsman investigated 27 complaints relating to the administration of the scheme. He published his report last week after a year of work.The terms of reference of the scheme have been interpreted particularly narrowly, with the result that applicants have been barred from accessing the scheme. The report also highlighted examples of evidence not being followed up and a lack of consistency in applying the criteria for access to the scheme. Alarmingly, it found a blanket refusal to include in the scheme persons who were in any of the institutions listed under the remit of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. The Ombudsman found this refusal manifestly unfair.

The report also showed that the Department of Justice and Equality relied heavily on word of mouth statements from the various orders. The Ombudsman also noted serious delays in making payments to successful applicants to the scheme. He recommended an immediate review of the scheme, particularly the blanket bar from accessing the scheme applied to those who were resident in the institutions listed in the Residential Institutions Redress Board scheme. When wrong is done in any part of society, whether by a politician, Department or hospital, rather than facing up to and remedying our failures, we seem to double down which causes much more hurt to individuals who have been treated unfairly. I call on the Minister to address the House as part of a debate on the report in the new year.

I also raise the tragic shooting in Blanchardstown yesterday. I convey my sympathies and those of the Fianna Fáil Party group to the victims and their families. We learned yesterday that a baby was shot in the leg in this highly concerning incident. I pray that the feud will not continue and there will not be any escalation or retaliation in respect of these matters. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and are in hospital.

I call on the Minister for Justice and Equality to attend the House to discuss how he intends to improve outcomes on the serving of summonses. We learned with shock in a "Prime Time Investigates" programme broadcast last night that one in four summonses is not served correctly.