Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
131. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she supports the broader interpretation of Justice Quirke's recommendations on health care which will afford all women, regardless of place of residence, full health care equal to the holders of the HAA card. [24949/14]
View answerJudge 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. Judge Quirke specifically recommended that legislation should be introduced to give effect to his recommendation regarding the provision of medical services. While this is a Health issue, the Government agreed that my Department would coordinate legislation to implement several of Judge Quirke's recommendations. A Scheme of the Bill has now been drafted by my Department in consultation with the Department of Health. The Scheme of the Bill will be considered by Government shortly and I anticipate that the Government will approve the drafting of the Bill at that stage. Details of what medical services will be provided, how they will be provided and where they will be provided will be fully determined by the Department of Health in accord with the Government decision on the matter.
