Report on the Magdalene Laundries Is to Be Brought to Govt by Justice Minister

RTE News
January 9, 2013

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0109/magdalene-report.html

Survivor testimony was given to the committee chaired by Senator Martin McAleese

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said he intends to bring the report on the Magdalene Laundries to Government with a view to publication within four weeks.

The Inter-Departmental Committee chaired by Senator Martin McAleese was set up to establish the facts of the State's involvement with the Magdalene Laundries.

"I understand that the report will be submitted to me within ten days by Senator McAleese," Minister Shatter said.

"As soon as I have had an opportunity to read what I understand to be a very substantial report, I will bring it to Government and it will then be published."

Last year, the UN Committee Against Torture strongly criticised the Government's failure to apologise to and compensate former detainees of the State's ten Catholic-run Magdalene laundries.

Lengthy testimony gathered from survivors was given to the committee, which was established by the Government in response to the UN's criticisms.