Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 March 2013
177. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason, having included the laundries of the Sisters of Mercy, the laundry in Athy, County Kildare was not included in the redress scheme under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Quirke; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12064/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding a facility in relation to recent statements of responsibility within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12107/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 180 together.
The Government decision of 19 February relates to Magdalen Laundries which were examined by the Inter-Departmental Committee set up to establish the facts of State involvement. There were a wide variety of institutions which had laundries run by different religious congregations and no decision has been made to include them all within the scope of the Magdalen Scheme. As regards the specific institution referred to by the Deputies, I have seen no evidence to suggest that the institution in question shares the characteristics associated with the 10 Magdalen Laundries. In particular key factors include State involvement, an enclosed residential institution, loss of identity, women who did not choose to be there and women having to work without pay in a commercial laundry.
