From: “Ciara D. Kellegher”
Date: July 1, 2011 6:47:46 AM EDT
Subject: 1. Minister Shatter announces appointment of Chairperson of Inter-departmental Committee into Magdalene Laundries 2. Statement by Senator Martin McAleese on the Magdalene Laundries Inter-departmental Committee
Department of Justice and Equality
1 July 2011
Minister Shatter announces appointment of Chairperson of Inter-departmental
Committee into Magdalene Laundries
Mr Alan Shatter TD, Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence today
announced the appointment of Senator Dr. Martin McAleese as the Chairperson
of the Inter-departmental Committee on the Magdalene Laundries.
The Government believes it is essential to fully establish the true facts
and circumstances relating to the Magdalene Laundries as a first step. The
purpose of the Inter-departmental Committee will be to clarify any State
interaction with the Magdalene Laundries and to produce a narrative
detailing such interaction.
Announcing the appointment Minister Shatter said “I am delighted that
Senator McAleese has agreed to take on the important role of Chairperson of
the Inter-departmental Committee. The value of his work and involvement in
the peace process in Northern Ireland and the positive contribution he has
made to life on this island have been widely recognised. He is a person of
the highest integrity whose presence on the Committee will, I believe, both
enhance it’s stature and, importantly, reassure everyone concerned that the
role of Chairperson of the Inter-departmental Committee is a truly
independent one.”
An initial report is to be made to Cabinet on the progress being made by
the Inter-departmental Committee within 3 months of it’s first meeting.
_____________________________________________________________________
Seanad Eireann
1st July 2011
Statement by Senator Martin McAleese on the Magdalene Laundries
Inter-departmental Committee
“I have accepted an invitation from the Minister for Justice, Equality and
Defence, Alan Shatter TD, to become the independent chairperson of the
Inter-departmental Committee on the Magdalene Laundries. The sole purpose
of the committee is to clarify and detail the facts of any State
interaction with the laundries. I look forward to working with the
Committee and hope our report will make a valuable contribution to this
issue. I will be making no further public comment until the work of the
Committee is complete.”
