Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
929. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the consequences of a survivor not registering with the Magdalen Fund/Commission during the three months of Mr Justice Quirke’s review; if non registration will result in exclusion from further engagement with the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17137/13]
View answer935. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to advertise the existence of the Magdalen Fund/Commission, as well as the requirement that women register with the Commission, in media outlets at home and abroad, in view of the lessons learned form the Residential Institutions Redress Board, where applicants living abroad came forward after the deadline claiming that they were never informed about the scheme; if he will commit to placing advertisements in national and local newspapers here as well as Irish Diaspora newspapers in the UK, USA, Canada and Australia in order that those not affiliated to groups have an equal chance to gain entitlements as survivors of abuse in the Magdalen Laundries; and in this year of The Gathering, if he will do everything in his power to reach out to survivors living abroad and empower them to avail of the Magdalene fund. [17150/13]
View answer936. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will detail consequences of a survivor not registering with the Magdalen Fund/Commission during the three months of Mr Justice Quirke's review; and if they will be excluded from further engagment with the process. [17151/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 929, 935 and 936 together.
There are no consequences for women not registering their interest during the three months Mr. Justice Quirke has been asked to conduct his examination. However registration will facilitate any consultation process undertaken to take women's views into account and will also facilitate such women being kept informed of any developments.
No decision on advertising will be made until after the Government has received the recommendations of Judge Quirke and made a decision on how best to implement a scheme.
