Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has welcomed the willingness of four religious congregations that ran 10 Magdalene homes to co-operate with any inquiry which may take place.
A statement issued last week by the Conference of Religious in Ireland said the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity, the Sisters of Charity at Donnybrook and the Good Shepherd Sisters would co-operate with future inquiries.
Mr Shatter said the statement by the organisations, along with all of the other information available and reports published to date, will be considered by the Government when it is discussed in Cabinet.