The Taoiseach has broken down in tears after apologising to all women for the hurt done to them in the Magdalene Laundries.
Enda Kenny has told the Dáil the deep regret for the stigma suffered by the women.
He says they took this country's terrible secret and made it their own but today we take it back and they keep it no more.
Mr. Kenny says the women scrubbed away the nation's shadow, our conscience in Ireland of the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
He said "I, as Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, the government and our citizens deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them, and for any stigma they suffered, as a result of the time they spent in a Magdalene Laundry".
"I am confident that this process will enable us to provide speedy, fair and meaningful help to the women in a compassionate and non-adversarial way" he added.
Taoiseach: "We failed you"
He has also pledged a package of support for the women in their remaining years after a 3-month review.
Dozens of women who spent time in the workhouses attended the Dail debate on the issue.
The Cabinet held a special meeting before the speeches to finalise the government response to the McAleese Report.
It outlined clear evidence of State involvement in the laundries.
Speaking in the Dail this evening, Mr. Kenny was overcome with emotion after apologising to the women involved.
Watch his entire speech below:
These women from the Magdalene Survivors Together group - along with Steven O'Riordan - gave their reaction:
This woman, Marie Smith, also gave her reaction to the speech:
