Following the publication of the McAleese report last February, Mr. Justice Quirke was asked by the Government to report back within three months on a proposal for a redress and compensation scheme for the women of the Magdalen laundries. I understand this report was received by the Minister for Justice and Equality and Defence last month but has not yet been published.

He was busy.

Media reports and leaks over the weekend suggested that Mr. Justice Quirke recommended the setting up of a reconciliation forum between the women and their former abusers. This suggestion has caused great upset among many survivors who have been in contact with me in recent days.

The Taoiseach is well aware that these women have waited for many years for recognition and vindication. They thought they had received that when the Taoiseach stood up in this House and apologised last February. However, the delay in publishing the report has confused and upset these women just as the ongoing delay in coming to a decision on Bethany Home causes ongoing hardship to former residents.

The women have gone through the trauma of telling their stories multiple times in written submissions and personal testimonials. They have put up with enough delay and need to be compensated for their unpaid wages and illegal incarceration and given their full pension rights. On what date will this report be published and will its publication bring to an end the confusion and hurt of these women? When will the Government make public its decision in respect of compensation for the survivors of Bethany Home?

I thank Deputy McDonald for her question on this matter. It is only fair to say that after so many years of nothing having been done about this that the Government put in place a structure and process by which a conclusion could be brought to the issue of the Magdalen survivors and the sensitivity, hurt and trauma associated with it.

Mr. Justice Quirke has reported to the Minister. The Government has not yet considered the report. It was very clear from the contributions made here on the Magdalen issue that there was a clear wish that this should not be a long-term, adversarial, legal and complex process and that because of the age and health circumstances of a number of the women, it should be dealt with as fairly and speedily as possible.

I expect the report will come before the Government in the next two weeks. The Government will consider the recommendations and the views of the Minister for Justice and Equality on it and make its decision. The report can then be published. In publishing the report, the Government will hopefully be able to set out its view on how the process of dealing with the recommendations made by Mr. Justice Quirke can be applied. We hope to have the report in the next two weeks and, hopefully, it can be dealt with speedily and conclusively.