Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2012
447. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason only ten Magdalene Laundries will be included in the final report of inter-departmental committee and will not include the Magdalene Laundry (details supplied); the reasons for some Magdalene Laundries and or religious institutions designed for the same purposes as those listed will not be investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42725/12]
View answerThe Government has charged the inter-departmental committee with clarifying any State interaction with the Magdalene institutions, of which there were ten, and producing a narrative detailing such interaction. Magdalene institutions have been recognised in this and other jurisdictions as places established primarily for the purpose of providing refuge or asylum for women of all ages. At the time the State was established there were 10 Magdalene institutions in the 26 counties which were run by religious congregations. There were many other institutions in the State operated by religious orders including schools, training centres and hospitals with laundries attached but this does not make them Magdalene institutions.
The institution referred to was not a Magdalene institution. It was an Industrial School with a laundry attached and as such is listed in the Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 which provided for the establishment of the Redress Board.
