On 18 June the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) published its Follow-Up Report on State Involvement in the Magdalene Laundries. It calls for a comprehensive redress scheme to provide compensation, restitution and rehabilitation for women incarcerated in the Laundries.
The report revises the IHRC's 2010 Assessment Report on the Magdalene Laundries in light of recent developments. The 2010 report called on the State to establish a statutory mechanism to investigate its role in the Laundries. In 2011 the United Nations Committee Against Torture recommended that Ireland “institute prompt, independent and thorough investigations into all allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment that were allegedly committed in the Magdalene Laundries.” Following this, in July 2011 an Inter-Departmental Committee was set up to establish the facts relating to State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries, chaired by Senator Martin McAleese. Following the release of the report in February 2013 the Taoiseach apologised on behalf of the State in the Dáil, and an ex gratia scheme was put in place for the benefit of the those who lived in the Magdalene Laundries.
According to the IHRC, the McAleese report had a fact-finding mandate only and should be seen as step in establishing the State's obligations to provide redress. The new IHRC report goes further and examines State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries in light of its obligations to protect and vindicate the rights of its citizens under the Irish Constitution and international law.
The IHRC Follow-Up Report made a number of recommendations, including:
- The State should put in place a scheme for redress, restitution and rehabilitation of women who were incarcerated in the Laundries;
- The State should review its interaction with non-State bodies to ensure that it meets its obligations to respect, promote and fulfill the human rights of everyone within its jurisdiction;
- Amend national equality legislation in the light of the State's international human rights obligations;
- Urgently introduce comprehensive capacity legislation in full compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
Click here to view the IHRC report in full, and click here to read the 2010 IHRC report.
On 26 June Ireland's Minister for Justice Alan Shatter and the Minister of State Kathleen Lynch announced a scheme of payments for women who worked in the Magdalene Laundries. The announcement followed a report by Justice Quirke which recommended ex gratia payments and supports for the women involved. The Government accepted all of Justice Quirke’s recommendations. Significantly, the report recommends that all women who worked in the Magdalene Laundries should receive cash payments ranging from €11,500 (for those who were in the Laundries for three months or less) to €100,000 (for those who worked for periods of ten years or more).
Click here to view a press release from the Department of Justice and Equality.