I call Deputy Mary Lou McDonald.

Would Deputies please mind? There is only one Chair here for the moment. I call Deputy McDonald.

The McAleese report into the Magdalene laundries was supposed to have been published in the middle of last year. There has been much foot-dragging since then. Two weeks ago, the Taoiseach's colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, indicated that the report would be made public within a timeframe of four weeks. I know this matter was raised yesterday by Deputy Calleary, but I am raising it now because I am alarmed to hear that the Government has not yet had sight of the report. Can the Taoiseach confirm when he will receive the report, when it will be published and, most crucially, when it is to be made public so that the Government can move speedily towards the apology and redress which is due to the women involved?

As Deputy McDonald is aware, the Government asked Senator McAleese to deal with this report. I can confirm that he has engaged exhaustively with groups, organisations and the women directly.

I know all that.

As I understand it, what is involved now is just tidying up the completion of the report for presentation to the Government. I understand it was Senator McAleese's intention that it might be completed by Christmas but, no more than with any other report, the final drafting can take some time.

So when will the Government have it?

I expect the report will be presented to the Government probably within the next week to ten days. There will not be any delay by the Government in considering it. There will be an opportunity for a debate here in the House. The Government has not yet seen the report because Senator McAleese has not yet concluded its final drafting. That is all that is involved.

That delay is utterly deplorable.

A very significant amount of work was involved in this, including sifting through thousands of pieces of paper and records. It is too facile to say that this is foot-dragging.

I am in contact with the Senator.

The Senator and his small staff have done enormous work in completing the report and it is just a matter of tidying it up. It will be done very shortly.