The South Belfast MLA, who chairs the Executive Office Committee at Stormont, has said: "I welcome confirmation that legislation will be introduced within the coming months to establish a statutory public inquiry to investigate responsibility for human rights violations experienced in Mother & Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses between 1922 and 1995.
"The legislation will include the establishment of a redress scheme administered by the Executive Office. This is where learning from schemes which are already been in place, notably for Historical Institutional Abuse of children, will be essential. Fundamentally, we want to see money spent on the needs of victims and survivors rather than on administration and legal costs.
"This step shows the value of having Stormont back up and running not just because it means a Bill can be brought forward, but because it will enable the Committee to scrutinise the legislation and to ensure the interests of victims and survivors are paramount.
"This Bill will form a vital part of a broad Executive legislative programme, and we will welcome the opportunity to make the legislation the best it can be on behalf of all those affected by the scandal of the Mother & Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and workhouses.
“I would pay tribute to all those birth mothers and adult adoptees who have campaigned for many years for this public inquiry. Their fortitude and bravery in sharing their personal stories have been so admirable and I hope that they receive the transparency, accountability and justice that they all deserve.”