Survivors of the laundries want an apology and compensation, and where necessary prosecutions for the abuses which took place at the catholic-run work houses.

The committee which compiled this report was chaired by Senator Martin McAleese who resigned from politics last Friday.

The report - which will be discussed by the cabinet today - will outline the extent of the Irish government's knowledge of the abuses that took place at the Magdalene laundries - the last of which only closed in 1996.

More than 30,000 women were detained and forced to work in the profit making laundries run by four religious congregations.

Most of the women are now dead, but the survivors and the families of those who are deceased are awaiting an apology from 
the state and church over their forced detention.

The government will also be put under pressure to outline what compensation if any is to be provided for the surviving women.