Senator Bacik calls for Debate into Allegations of Torture at Magdalene Institutions

Order of Business

7th June 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik: I join other Senators in congratulating those Members who are in the new Independent group of Taoiseach's nominees. Senator van Turnhout is the leader, if an independent group can have a leader. We are all glad to see a new group being formed, it will add to the quality of debate in this House. I can inform Senator Leyden that it is possible for a card carrying member of a political party to be a member of an independent group. I should know because I was previously a member of the Independent group despite having been a card carrying member of the Labour Party.

… It is perfectly possible and we all welcome it. I also welcome the induction training in procedures for new Senators. It is important and we can all learn from it. I hope to attend because it is useful for all of us to get a reminder of procedures in the House.

I join Senator O'Brien in condemning the killing in Donabate at the weekend. Like many others, I was on Donabate beach on Saturday with my children and it is appalling to think such a brutal murder would happen in such a beautiful holiday spot. Both sides of the House join in condemning that.

We have some good news from the weekend. The airline pilots' strike has been averted. That is a matter of great relief to anyone contemplating travel and it is a great relief to the tourism industry here.

I ask for a debate on the recommendation of the UN committee against torture, which recommended that a statutory investigation should be held into allegations of torture and degrading treatment in the Magdalene institutions. This has been a cause for a long time and there is an excellent article by Patsy McGarry in The Irish Times today. All of us, including Senators on the Government side, should support the call for some form of apology and compensation to be offered to the survivors of these horrific abuses by the State at this stage in the campaign.