Department of Justicie Reviewing Report on Magdalene Laundries Redress

RTE News
June 2, 2013

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0602/454239-dept-reviewing-report-on-magdalene-redress/

A Department of Justice spokesman said the report was being considered and would be submitted to Government shortly

The Department of Justice has confirmed that it has received the report prepared by Mr Justice John Quirke in relation to a redress scheme for survivors of the Magdalene laundries.

A spokesman said the report was being considered and would be submitted to Government shortly.

The department also confirmed that it has received a letter from the Rapporteur from the United Nations Committee Against Torture in relation to the report by Martin McAleese on the laundries.

A senior United Nations official has criticised the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalene Laundries (McAleese Report).

The UN official described it as limited and not sufficiently independent.

The McAleese report was published in February and the subsequent apology by the Taoiseach was broadly welcomed by survivors groups.

But some of the concerns expressed by survivors have been echoed by the UN's Committee Against Torture.

Survivors are waiting for a redress scheme, expected later this year.

There are concerns on how that might work, particularly if it is based on the findings of the McAleese report.

The Department of Justice has said it will issue a response in due course.