Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the findings of the UN Committee against Torture concluding observation and recommendations regarding those involuntarily confined in the Magdalene Laundries; if he will outline his plans for dealing with the findings. [15297/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The UN Committee against Torture (UNCAT) issued its concluding observations on Monday 6 June following Ireland's first examination in Geneva last month under Article 19 of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhumane or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Committee in its statement acknowledged Ireland's commitment to engage with them in a constructive manner and indeed commended Ireland for significant progress in recent years in a number of areas such as the prevention of domestic violence and human trafficking. Its concluding observations cover a wide range of areas from prison conditions to the total prohibition of corporal punishment, the Magdalen Laundries, the follow up of the Ryan Report and the processing of applications for refugee status, all of which impact on the remit of several Government Departments.

Specifically, in relation to the Magdalen Laundries, the Committee "recommended that the State should institute prompt, independent, and thorough investigations into all allegations of torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment that were allegedly committed in the Magdalen Laundries and, in appropriate cases, prosecute and punish the perpetrators with penalties commensurate with the gravity of the offences committed, and ensure that all victims obtain redress and have an enforceable right to compensation including the means for as full rehabilitation as possible".

You will be aware that the Government made an announcement relevant to this matter yesterday.