A new report from the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has said the State failed in its obligation to protect the human rights of women in the Magdalene Laundries.

It is calling for a redress scheme that provides individual compensation for every woman that lived there.

Around 10,000 women were sent to the Magdalene Laundries which were workhouses run by 4 religious orders. They were sent for a number of reasons - from petty crime to pregnancy outside of marriage.

Last February a report by former Senator Martin McAleese found that the State had a hand in around a quarter of the admissions to the laundries, prompting an emotional apology from the Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

Speaking at the launch of its follow up report on the laundries, the IHRC Human Rights Commissioner Professor, Siobhan Mullally, said the redress scheme should provide "individual compensation" as well as "restitution and rehabilitation". She said the restitution should compensate for "lost wages and pensions".

Speaking to Newstalk's reporter, Ms. Mullally said the report is primarily concerned with Ireland's human rights obligations:

Last week the Taoiseach said a report from retire Judge John Quirke on the compensation scheme for the women will be with the Cabinet in two weeks and he pledged to publish it immediately.