Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 Feb 2015

Vol. 868 No. 2

Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage

Debate resumed on amendment No. 17:

In page 5, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:

“Establishment of a Restorative Justice Scheme

5. The Restorative Justice Scheme proposed by the Magdalen Commission Report on the establishment of an ex-gratia Scheme and related matters for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in Magdalen Laundries, authored by Mr Justice John Quirke and published in May 2013, shall be enacted.”.

-(Deputy Ruth Coppinger).

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

I had spoken before the debate adjourned yesterday to amendment No. 19 in my name which proposed a review of the legislation to check its accuracy in delivering on Mr. Justice Quirke's recommendations. I have suggested a mechanism for such a review.

Yesterday, when I asked the Minister to look favourably on the amendment, I was making the point that it would not prove a costly or very time-consuming exercise. In the interests of everybody concerned, not least the survivors and their advocacy groups, it would be a very useful exercise and I urge the Minister to consider the amendment favourably.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan

There is nothing to lose by constant monitoring and evaluation and it is in everybody's best interests to provide a mechanism whereby it can be examined within a month or another period of time. I agree with Deputy McDonald that there would be no cost issue. It would ensure that the many positive elements of the Bill would be addressed adequately.

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald)

I dealt with this in detail on the previous Stage when I explained why I could not accept the amendments. I will take up Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's suggestion that we produce an information booklet for the women outlining their entitlements under the Act. It is a good idea and it would be helpful. My Department and the Department of Health will ensure it happens. We are in daily contact with the women who have outstanding issues and there is a very good relationship between the women who are in receipt of the ex gratia payments, and who are inquiring about the various benefits, and the approximately eight staff who have been dedicated to this over the past year and who have done very detailed work which the women have greatly appreciated. I have gone into detail on the reasons why the two issues regarding advocacy and the complementary therapies cannot be dealt with in the scope of the Bill. However, all of Mr. Justice Quirke's recommendations are being met by the Bill. The recommendations on health are being comprehensively dealt with by the legislation.

Amendment put and declared lost.

Deputy Ruth Coppinger

I move amendment No. 18:

In page 5, between lines 7 and 8, to insert the following:

“Implementation of Magdalen Commission Report recommendations

5. The Minister shall report to Dáil Éireann within 6 months of the enactment of this Act and each subsequent 6 months on the implementation of the recommendations of the Magdalen Commission Report on the establishment of an ex-gratia Scheme and related matters for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in Magdalen Laundries, authored by Mr Justice John Quirke.”.

Amendment put and declared lost.

Deputy Mary Lou McDonald

I move amendment No. 19:

In page 5, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

“(2) That within 1 month of enactment of this legislation the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission will independently verify, in a report laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, that the legislation does indeed fully and faithfully implement the relevant recommendations contained within the Magdalen Commission Report on the establishment of an ex-gratia Scheme and related matters for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in the Magdalen Laundries, authored by Mr Justice John Quirke and published in May 2013.”.

Amendment put:

The Dáil divided: Tá, 34; Níl, 52.

Tá

• Adams, Gerry.
• Boyd Barrett, Richard.
• Calleary, Dara.
• Collins, Joan.
• Colreavy, Michael.
• Coppinger, Ruth.
• Cowen, Barry.
• Crowe, Seán.
• Daly, Clare.
• Ellis, Dessie.
• Ferris, Martin.
• Fitzmaurice, Michael.
• Fleming, Tom.
• Grealish, Noel.
• Halligan, John.
• Healy, Seamus.
• Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
• McDonald, Mary Lou.
• McGrath, Finian.
• McGrath, Mattie.
• McLellan, Sandra.
• Martin, Micheál.
• Mathews, Peter.
• Moynihan, Michael.
• Murphy, Catherine.
• Ó Cuív, Éamon.
• Ó Fearghaíl, Seán.
• O'Dea, Willie.
• O'Sullivan, Maureen.
• Pringle, Thomas.
• Smith, Brendan.
• Stanley, Brian.
• Troy, Robert.
• Wallace, Mick.

Níl

• Breen, Pat.
• Butler, Ray.
• Buttimer, Jerry.
• Byrne, Catherine.
• Byrne, Eric.
• Cannon, Ciarán.
• Carey, Joe.
• Collins, Áine.
• Connaughton, Paul J.
• Corcoran Kennedy, Marcella.
• Creed, Michael.
• Daly, Jim.
• Deasy, John.
• Dowds, Robert.
• Durkan, Bernard J.
• Feighan, Frank.
• Fitzgerald, Frances.
• Flanagan, Terence.
• Gilmore, Eamon.
• Griffin, Brendan.
• Hannigan, Dominic.
• Harrington, Noel.
• Heydon, Martin.
• Howlin, Brendan.
• Kenny, Seán.
• Kyne, Seán.
• Lawlor, Anthony.
• Lyons, John.
• McCarthy, Michael.
• McEntee, Helen.
• McFadden, Gabrielle.
• McGinley, Dinny.
• McHugh, Joe.
• McNamara, Michael.
• Maloney, Eamonn.
• Mitchell O'Connor, Mary.
• Mulherin, Michelle.
• Neville, Dan.
• Nolan, Derek.
• Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
• O'Donovan, Patrick.
• O'Mahony, John.
• O'Reilly, Joe.
• O'Sullivan, Jan.
• Perry, John.
• Phelan, Ann.
• Ring, Michael.
• Stagg, Emmet.
• Stanton, David.
• Wall, Jack.
• Walsh, Brian.
• White, Alex.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Mary Lou McDonald and Seán Crowe; Níl, Deputies Joe Carey and Emmet Stagg.

Amendment declared lost.

Bill, as amended, received for final consideration and passed.