Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken to ensure the Magdalen Fund/Commission is a transparent process; if it will have an appeals process with independent monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16631/13]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if Justice Quirke will be commissioned to implement the process that he recommends after the three month review work of the Magdalen Fund/Commission. [16632/13]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider making available free independent advice and advocacy assistance in relation to the proposed redress scheme to survivors of Magdalene Laundries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17138/13]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will establish a dedicated helpline for Magdalene survivors to assist them in dealing with the Quirke review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17139/13]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if the Magdalene Fund/Commission will be placed on a statutory footing with independent statutory powers. [17152/13]

Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures that are being put in place to enable women in institutionalised settings to engage with the Magdalene Fund/Commission; and if a guardian ad litem or independent advocate will be provided in all such cases as a way to further guarantee their rights. [17154/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 903, 930, 931, 937 and 939 together.

Mr. Justice Quirke has been asked to advise on the establishment of a scheme for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in a Magdalen Laundry and to examine how best to operate, as part of that scheme, necessary supports for women who have been in a Magdalen Laundry. It is a matter for Judge Quirke to decide independently how he will carry out his examination. His terms of reference are as follows:

"Taking into account the findings of the "Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries"

(i) to advise on the establishment of an ex gratia Scheme (to operate on a non-adverserial basis) including identifying the criteria and factors to be taken into account to facilitate the early establishment and effective conduct of an ex gratia Scheme for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in a Magdalen Laundry and in the Laundry operated in the Training Centre at Stanhope Street, Dublin, taking into account criteria determined to be relevant, including work undertaken and other matters as considered appropriate, to contribute to a healing and reconciliation process;

(ii) to examine how best to operate (as part of that Scheme) an ex gratia Fund, of a sum sufficient to meet the recommendations of Mr Justice Quirke, the nature and amount of ex gratia payments to be made out of the Fund and on the determination of applications for payment in an effective and timely manner that ensures the monies in the Fund are directed only to the benefit of eligible applicants and not on legal fees and expenses.

(iii) to examine how the Government might best provide supports (including health services such as medical cards, mental health services and counselling services and other welfare needs) as part of the Scheme for women who require such supports as a result of their experiences in the Laundries.

(iv) to consider the approach to be taken in circumstances in which a payment has already been made by the Redress Board by way of redress to a former resident of an industrial school, where such payment included a sum specifically due to the direct transfer of that person from an industrial school to a relevant Laundry and their time or part of their time spent in a Laundry or Laundries.

(v) to examine the effect, if any, of the making of an ex gratia payment to a person who is resident in the UK and how best the making of any such payment should be structured so as not to adversely affect their existing entitlements to benefits and supports.

(vi) to advise as to what steps or measures are appropriate to ensure that ex gratia payments or supports or assistance provided are dis-regarded for the purposes of determining entitlement of Social Welfare payments and/or income tax liability.

(vii) to report back to Government within three months with recommendations.

When his recommendations have been received, the Government will consider the matter and decide how best to implement a scheme.