I raise an issue that was highlighted in the Dáil last night during the debate on a Fianna Fáil Party Private Members' motion, during which Deputy Martin demanded an apology from the Government. Responding on behalf of the Government, the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, cited the words of Sally Mulready from the Irish Women Survivors Support Network. Referring to the Fianna Fáil Party, Ms Mulready stated the following: "The Opposition party were in government for 14 years and throughout kept people like me away, refused to listen and blocked our path at every turn."

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader? We are not discussing what took place in the other House.

This matter is on the record. Perhaps Deputy Martin will come into the Seanad and apologise to the victims of the Magdalen laundries on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, rather than demanding the reverse. This Government introduced a committee to investigate the Magdalen laundries after years of inaction by the previous Fianna Fáil Government which refused to engage with the Magdalen survivors. Fianna Fáil Deputies have no intention of apologising for their party's inaction but perhaps the party's Senators will do so in this House. We have been told an apology should be forthcoming from the Government when the apology should come from the other side of the House.