Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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21. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm that Mr. Justice Quirke's report clearly stated that survivors of Magdalen Laundries should receive directly equivalent services to those provided to holders of the Health Amendment Act Card; if he will clarify the reason the terms refer to public health services and public hospitals only; if all of the services that HAA cardholders enjoy will be provided for under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Judge Quirke recommended that "As an integral part of the ex gratia Scheme a card entitling its holder to health services equivalent to those provided to the holder of a HAA card should be given to each of the women who were admitted to and worked in a designated Magdalen laundry."

Appendix G of Judge Quirke's report contains information extracted from the Guide to Community Services Available to HAA Card Holders Under Health (Amendment) Act 1996.

In this regard, Judge Quirke advised that "not all the community services described in that Guide may be directly relevant to the Magdalen women and any comparable Guide for the Magdalen women would require suitable adaptation.

It was also recommended by Judge Quirke that legislation was required in order to implement this recommendation.

The Deputy will appreciate that the provision of medical services is a Department of Health issue. However, it has been agreed that my Department would coordinate legislation to implement Judge Quirke's recommendations. The necessary legislation is included on the priority list of the Government Legislation Programme for the Spring/Summer 2014. Details of exactly what services will be provided is being determined by the Department of Health. My officials are working with that Department in finalising the drafting of the necessary legislative provisions as quickly as possible.

The text in the Terms of the Ex Gratia Scheme Document relating to the provision of medical services was provided by the Department of Health. It will be updated to reflect the provisions contained in the forthcoming legislation.