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 has launched its consultation inviting you the opportunity to have your say on the Bill's content.

Please find below a link to the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill survey. The survey is hosted on our Citizen Space website.

The closing date for responses is Monday 29 September 2025.

 

Attend a Familiarisation Session

The Committee will also hold a number of Familiarisation Sessions to help stakeholders understand the legislative process of the bill, and in particular the Committee Stage. These sessions will take place:

  • Monday 7th July in Parliament Buildings.
  • Tuesday 9th September in Wave Trauma Centre.
  • Thursday 11th September online/virtual.

If you would like to attend, or for more information, please email cteotrconsultation@niassembly.gov.uk.

 

Learn more from our Committee Chair

Watch our 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.

Paula also encourages everyone with an opinion on the Bill to take part in the Call for Evidence (see above), which is now open for responses, and explains what the Committee will do with all the evidence and information that it receives.

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

 

How to stay updated

Stay updated by:

  • bookmarking this webpage for the latest information.
  • following the Committee on X (formerly Twitter) for the latest information and ways to get involved.
  • signing up to receive updates straight to your inbox by completing the subscription form below.

 

Subscribe to the latest news on the bill

Sign up to receive updates on the bill by completing the form below. To complete registration, please acknowledge that you have read and accepted the terms of our privacy notice and complete the process by clicking the confirmation link that will be sent to your inbox.

 

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