National Women’s Council Welcomes State Apology to Magdalene Women

Published: Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The National Women's Council of Ireland welcomes the apology by Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the Magdalene women and calls on the government to ensure an open, transparent and fair process of redress.

Rachel Doyle, Head of Outreach, National Women's Council of Ireland said,

'We welcome the heartfelt formal apology to women who spent time in the Magdalene Laundries  issued by the Taoiseach last night on behalf of the Irish State, the government and the citizens of Ireland. This apology clearly meant so much to the women who were there and will touch the lives of women survivors of the Magdalene laundries throughout the world.'

Rachel Doyle added,

'What is needed now is the development of an open, transparent, fair and non-adversarial process of redress.  We support the Justice for Magdalenes Group in their call for Justice John Quirke to be given statutory powers, for an independent appeals system, and proper resources to oversee the process. These steps will be key  to ensuring that the apology is meaningful and that the women affected can finally have their rights to some degree vindicated and live with a level of social and economic security for the rest of their lives.'

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