Magdalen Laundries

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 March 2013

Wednesday, 6 March 2013

Ceisteanna (170)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

170. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider, as part of the wider redress scheme that is to materialise in due course for survivors of the Magdalen institutions, enabling a thorough and comprehensive record facility to be established that would allow survivors and their families access to all available genealogical and other records necessary to locate their families and reconstruct their family identities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11838/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I have no control over records held by the religious congregations or other non State bodies. However from my contact with the religious congregations I understand that they will facilitate individual's access to records with the necessary regard being given to their privacy and data protection. It is not within my power to establish a facility that would allow the women who were admitted to the Magdalen Laundries and their families access to all genealogical and other records necessary to locate their families and reconstruct their family identities.