Magdalen Laundries Apology

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 January 2018

Tuesday, 16 January 2018

Questions (589, 611)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

589. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of discussions he has had with Dublin City Council senior management regarding the creation of an appropriate memorial at the Gloucester Street Magdalen laundry site on Seán McDermott Street, Dublin 1; and the assistance his Department has provided to Dublin City Council to progress the engagement with Magdalen laundry survivors as committed to by the then Taoiseach in his apology to the Magdalen women on behalf of the State in February 2013. [1734/18]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

611. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the work undertaken by his Department regarding the Quirke report recommendation that a memorial to the Magdalen women be funded and provided for by the Government; and if this work includes engagement with Dublin City Council officials to develop a memorial on the former Magdalen laundry site on Seán McDermott Street, Dublin 1. [2005/18]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 611 together.

The site of the Gloucester Street Magdalen Institution on Seán McDermott Street, Dublin 1 is owned by Dublin City Council (DCC).  In December 2017 DCC publicly announced that it will carry out a significant commercial redevelopment of the now largely derelict site as part of a broader economic regeneration of the area. In that announcement, DCC confirmed that there will be a Magdalen Memorial at the site and that it will consult with Magdalen representative groups early this year to agree how this should be done. 

As part of this consultation process, officials from my Department will meet Dublin City Council officials shortly to discuss matters relevant to the memorial.