State must Apologise for its role in the Magdalene Laundries- Ellis

‘State must apologise’; LAUNDRIES

100 words

27 September 2012

The Daily Mirror

1; Eire

6

English

(c) 2012 Mirror Group Ltd

SINN Fein TD Dessie Ellis last night urged the Government to apologise for its role in the Magdalene Laundries.

He made his comments during a Private Members debate on a motion seeking justice for the survivors.

Deputy Ellis said: “It would be convenient for us to shift the blame to the Church and the Order who carried out these acts but the State who funded them is guilty also.

“Silence, inaction, apathy and collaboration are not deeds of the innocent.

“This State allowed the Catholic Church free rein for many years.

“The State must apologise.”

Hogan should work to provide housing, not obstruct it – Ellis

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Dessie Ellis TD has called on Minister Hogan to explain himself. He made his call following the revelations that the scandal prone Minister may have lobbied Kilkenny Co. Council to obstruct the housing of a traveller family.

The particular family were living in crowded unsuitable conditions.
A letter was sent in Minister Hogan’s name from his constituency office on his headed paper naming the family and telling residents that the Minister and a local Fine Gael councillor had worked to block the family from housing in Bonnettstown, Co. Kilkenny.

“This Minister still refuses to meet the Priory Hall residents, who have been out of their homes for almost a year. A Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should be meeting the housing needs of people rather than obstructing them.

“Minister Hogan has some very serious questions to answer about the letter sent to residents of Bonnettstown, whether he lobbied Kilkenny County Council and if so why?”
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