Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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319. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the lack of comprehensive answers offered by the inter-departmental committee on the Magdalen laundries, the fact that testimony from survivors is ignored and many aspects and concerns raised by survivors and justice groups is being left out, while exclusive attention is being given to the version of events given by religious orders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2181/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalen Laundries - The McAleese Report - was published on the 5th February 2013 and gave a fully comprehensive answer to the question posed by its terms of reference. The Report, a detailed, carefully researched document running to over 1,000 pages, has been fully accepted by the Irish Government as a comprehensive and objective report of the factual position prepared under the supervision of an independent chairperson. The McAleese Report brought into the public arena a considerable amount of information not previously known. It also showed that many of the preconceptions about these institutions were not supported by the facts.

I do not understand what is the basis for the assertion that "survivor testimony is ignored". The testimony of these women who entered the institutions in question is referred to in a number of chapters and indeed chapter 19 is centred primarily around the testimony provided by those women. The working methods of the Committee are set out in detail in chapter 4 of the report. It refers to a wide range of sources including records from different sources. The chapter also clearly states that a variety of people were consulted and among the persons who were met and provided input were the women who were admitted to and worked there and the Representative and Advocacy Groups. A total of 118 women were met during the process of the Inter-Departmental Committee. Members of the religious orders were also met and provided an input as were any other persons who had knowledge of the institutions.

As the Deputy will remember on foot of the findings of the report, the Taoiseach made an apology in Dáil Eireann and the ex-gratia scheme of benefits for survivors was introduced.