Committee for the Executive Office - Primary Legislation

Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill

First and Second Stage

A bill to establish a Statutory Public Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries, and Workhouses was introduced to the Assembly on 16th June. The bill also requires the creation of a Redress Service, which will manage a formal financial compensation scheme for those affected.

The second stage of the bill process took place on 24th June, during which MLAs debated the principles of the bill.

 

Committee Stage

Next is the Committee stage, during which the Executive Office Committee will review the bill in detail.

This stage includes public consultation and gathering evidence from people with lived experience and others affected by the bill.

 

Call for Evidence

The Committee issued a call for evidence which opened on 7 July 2025 and closed on 29 September 2025.

 The Committee will now consider the evidence provided and determine what steps to take next.

 

Familiarisation Sessions

The Committee held three Familiarisation Sessions to help stakeholders understand the legislative process of the bill, and in particular the Committee Stage.

If you would like to be sent a recording of one of these sessions, please email cteotrconsultation@niassembly.gov.uk.

 

Stakeholder Roundtable Events

The Committee held three stakeholder roundtable events to discuss the Inquiry into Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses and Redress Scheme Bill. The roundtable discussions provided an opportunity for MLAs on the Committee for the Executive Office to hear individual concerns regarding the impact of the Bill.

These sessions were recorded by Hansard. An official transcript of the discussion was produced as part of the formal record. If you would like to request a copy of the Hansard, please email cteotrconsultation@niassembly.gov.uk

 

Learn more from our Committee Chair

Watch the video below to hear the Chair of the Committee, Paula Bradshaw, discuss the Committee’s next steps following the closure of its Call for Evidence regarding the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.

Watch a previous video below to hear the Chair of the Committee, Paula Bradshaw, discuss why the Committee is scrutinising the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill, what it is going to examine and what it hopes to achieve.

Paula also explains what to expect if you are invited to present evidence to the Committee in relation to the Bill. People who answer the Call for Evidence may be invited to brief the Committee in person, and provide further information on their experiences and views on the Bill.

If you prefer, you can read a written transcript of the video.

 

How to stay updated

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Contact us

If you have any questions, please get in touch using the contact details below:

Room 247, Parliament Buildings, 
Ballymiscaw, Stormont, 
Belfast, BT4 3XX 

Telephone: (028) 90521928

Email: cteotrconsultation@niassembly.gov.uk.

 

Further information