IRELAND
Irish Times
HARRY MCGEE
BACKGROUND: Within hours of the Magdalene Report being published a fortnight ago, the Taoiseach and Government knew they had paid a political price for an insipid apology and lack of a process.
“As we all know now, the report was published immediately after a Government meeting, before anybody had time to absorb it,” said a source familiar with the process.
“We anticipated that people would not be happy with an incomplete response.”
‘Lessons to be learned’
“There are obviously lessons to be learned about how Government handles reports of that magnitude. Time needs to be given to study the findings and discuss them,” said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Thus it became a political imperative to produce a thought-through, sensitive and comprehensive response over the following 14 days; one that would repair the Government’s hand after what was seen as the debacle of the initial response.
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