IRELAND
Irish Independent
Maeve O’Rourke
PUBLISHED
24/01/2015
If the Taoiseach’s emotional apology to Magdalene survivors was a highlight of his term, next week’s introduction of Magdalene legislation is in danger of being a low point. Quietly and deliberately, the Government is preparing to break its promise to approximately 500 elderly women regarding the redress package they were promised in 2013.
Next week, the Dáil will debate the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to implement the remaining aspects of the Magdalene redress scheme recommended by Mr Justice John Quirke in 2013.
Judge Quirke’s very first recommendation was that the women should receive a card entitling them to ‘the full range of services currently enjoyed by holders of the Health (Amendment) Act 1996 Card (“the HAA card”)’.
The Government is now refusing to give the women such a card. This is absolutely clear from the wording of the draft legislation.
No amount of spinning that the women will receive an “enhanced medical card” changes the fact that they will not receive what was promised: the full range of HAA card services.
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