Last week, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of legislation to allow for medical services and medical cards for the Magdalen laundries survivors. He referred me to the Minister for Justice and Equality who has written to me today. He has confirmed that the legislation will be in place by early 2014. However, I am concerned that the medical cover will only apply to women who are resident in the State. There is an issue concerning services for women who endured the Magdalen laundries in other jurisdictions, including Britain and the United States. Can the Taoiseach confirm that we will see this legislation early in 2014 to facilitate medical services for those women? Can he also reassure us that all the survivors - that is, everyone who has applied to the redress scheme and who is entitled to medical services - will have access to them, even if they are resident outside the State?

Last week, the Government approved the first tranche of €250,000 to be paid to a trust in England. Yesterday, I was speaking to Ms Sally Mulready, a member of the Council of State, who has done great work on this. She has confirmed that the first two women, whom I met in the Irish Embassy in London, are in receipt of their payments. Matters have moved quickly since Mr. Justice Quirke made his decision. The Government wants to be very generous to all these women. I do not have all the details before me.

My understanding is that this will apply in respect of all women who were in the Magdalen laundries and now live abroad, some of whom are already in receipt of full medical services and medical cards. The Government wants to be generous in these cases.