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File photo. Former Magdalene Laundry site on Sean McDermott Street in Dublin. Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

'To refuse them was a mistake': Redress plans for some women excluded from Magdalene scheme

Ombudsman Peter Tyndall has welcomed the government’s acceptance of his recommendations for redress for survivors.

THE GOVERNMENT IS set to act on proposals by the State Ombudsman to include more women under its Magdalene Laundry redress scheme.

In a report last November, Ombudsman Peter Tyndall was sharply critical of the government’s scheme for Magdalene survivors for excluding some applicants.

Many of those women had their applications for redress denied by the Department of Justice as they were not officially recorded as having been resident in the 12 institutions covered by the scheme.

Despite initial objections from the Department to Tyndall’s investigation into 27 specific cases, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said yesterday that he had briefed Cabinet on plans to implement the Ombudsman’s recommendations.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland today, Tyndall said that to not include these women in the redress scheme in the first place “was a mistake”.

“There was a particular group of women who were excluded who worked in the laundries but were deemed not to have been admitted to the laundries,” he said.

We felt the narrowing interpretation of the scheme was wrong. These woman should have been admitted. They had never been compensated for that work. They lived on the grounds of the same convent, ate the same food, under the same nuns.

The Ombudsman said that both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister Flanagan were considerate of his proposals in a recent meeting.

Tyndall said: “It’s fair to say they were receptive. It was a very constructive meeting. The detail we discussed was how to do things rather than whether [to do them].”

He also highlighted cases of women that do not have the capacity to sign the appropriate documentation to secure redress, and suggested that they become wards of the court in order to secure what they are entitled to. “It’s not ideal, but it’s the only way of doing it,” he said.

Taking action

Announcing plans to act on the Ombudsman’s recommendations, Minister Flanagan said that senior counsel Mary O’Toole would be appointed to review cases where the length of time spent is in dispute.

He also said that the counsel would provide assistance to applicants who lack the capacity to accept the award.

The case of women who weren’t officially recorded as having been “admitted to” a centre will also have their cases explored, by a group to be established in the coming days.

Tyndall added that getting the redress will make a huge difference to the women who’ve been excluded this far.

“It’s not just the financial compensation, it’s the enhanced income,” he said. “Pensions bumped up, access to free healthcare. We think the matter can be resolved in a small matter of months.

There’s no point in starting from scratch or reinventing the wheel with this one. We understand it to be the review we called for in our recommendation, to establish precisely how many women are out there and how they can be offered redress.

Since the Magdalene redress scheme was launched in 2013, 691 applicants have received a total of €25.9 million. In addition, qualifying applicants have had their pensions ‘topped up’ and an enhanced medical card from the HSE.

With reporting from Cianan Brennan

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:44 AM

    Tracy I also do career coaching and I think you have offered some very useful tips for people in your article. I wish you well in your new venture which I’m sure will be a great success.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Brian Waldron: i admire the energy and self belief to start a new venture and believe many can benefit from career coaching. Kids should taught a lot of this in school.

    But the advice in this article is facile and uninteresting. Dress for an interview? Take three deep breaths?

    At the end of it all there are a handful of pretty self evident interview tips (which I wouldn’t consider strictly speaking to be career advice) and three dull unhelpful tips on starting your own business.

    This was a huge opportunity to get her brand and business in front of a readership. Opportunity wasted.

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    Mute Brian Waldron
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: unfortunately the school system in general is bereft of many key life skills, such as preparing for the work environment, communication skills, handling adversity, developing resilience and generally building character and confidence. Whilst parents can only do so much, there is a gap.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Shazam37: How can people get paid for offering such bland and uninspiring advice?
    Why would anyone pay for “career coaching” when one can read good interview tips straight off HR based websites for FREE?

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:03 PM

    @Brian Waldron: Those gaps are filled in with a thing called “experience” Brian.

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:00 PM

    @David Corrigan: well I’m assuming the advice is better when she’s doing a session.

    Lazy effort here Though

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:22 PM

    @David Corrigan: she’s hardly going to destroy her business by giving all of her best tips out here for free.

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    Mute David Corrigan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:57 PM

    @Joe: I didn’t ask the lady to do that. I am just surprised that people pay for something that one can get for free. You always seem to get bogged down in little irrelevant things Joe.

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    Mute Shimo Tbay
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:02 AM

    If you have a complete “C U next tuesday” for a boss there is no coaching that can fix that. People don’t leave bad jobs they leave bad bosses. Do yourself a favour don’t be miserable, move on.

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:35 AM

    @Shimo Tbay: Well they do leave bad jobs but I totally get what your saying.

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    Mute Mark Johnson
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:06 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: Female bosses (usually single and childless) in their 40s, 50s, are the worst in my experience of bully bosses.

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    Mute Paul Quirke
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    Jun 7th 2020, 6:24 PM

    @Shimo Tbay: I have a really sound boss in my job which I started 7 months ago. It’s the first time after 20 odd years working that I find myself in this case where I really respect the person that Is my manager. It’s life changing.

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    Mute Dara O'Brien
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    Jun 7th 2020, 10:43 AM

    Career coach?

    Really?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Dara O’Brien: yeah it’s for people who want to push on to the next level and increase their worth!

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    Mute JimmyMc
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:38 AM

    @Joe: if you need a career coach to get to the next level then maybe you’re already at the level you should be at

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    Mute Shazam37
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @JimmyMc: or perhaps something less idiotic Jimmy?

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    Mute Joe
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    Jun 7th 2020, 1:28 PM

    @JimmyMc: “we hope to give them options they didn’t realise they have”.
    It’s about opening your mind and not getting stuck in a rut. Sometimes to move on and progress you need an independent voice to help you take that leap. If you can’t see that I would suggest it’s you who has reached their level.
    The ones with the open minds and flexibility will move onwards and upwards leaving you in their dust trail.

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    Mute Greg Dalton
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    Jun 7th 2020, 2:19 PM

    Tracy,
    I too have been a career coach for some 15 years. You offer some good tips. People often ask me why we need a ‘career coach’? If you liken it to a sports coach; a career coach looks at the years ahead and develops a strategy with their clients where they achieve their career targets and goals using a challenging and rewarding approach, similar to those of an athletic or team focusing on seasons or competitions ahead.
    Best wishes for your career.
    Greg Dalton

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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    Jun 7th 2020, 12:20 PM

    Does Tracey have any advice on how to deal with the discriminatory recruitment practices that are used by employers?

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    Mute levente
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    Jun 7th 2020, 3:12 PM

    Great Article !I would love to add you on LinkedIn. Do not listen to the these professional moaners , they are kind of bubble wrapped snobs . Good luck with your business ,we need more coaches like yourself, and a psychologist for the non believers !

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    Mute lisa duignan
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    Jun 7th 2020, 11:18 PM

    I think good career counselling is badly needed in secondary schools. Consider getting qualified for this. The pay is good and these jobs are very often filled by unsuitable people.

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