Magdalene Laundries Fund

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 May 2013

Wednesday, 22 May 2013

Ceisteanna (199)

Mary Lou McDonald

Ceist:

199. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the elderly Magdalene Laundries surviving women living in the US seeking to meet with Mr. Justice Quirke who due to ill health and or financial restraints have been unable to travel and in such instances have been told that they can only be accommodated if they are in a position to travel to Dublin at their own cost; the actions he will take to facilitate these women in providing them with an opportunity to set out their experience to Mr. Justice Quirke. [24602/13]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

Mr Justice Quirke has been asked to advise on the establishment of a scheme for the benefit of those women who were admitted to and worked in a Magdalen Laundry and to examine how best to operate, as part of that scheme, necessary supports for women who have been in a Magdalen Laundry. It is a matter for Mr Justice Quirke to decide independently how he carries out his examination.

No decision on any matter will be made until after the Government has received the recommendations of Judge Quirke and made a decision on how best to implement a scheme but it is intended to apply to all women who were in Magdalen laundries even if they no longer reside in the State.