Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms Boyd and Deputy Adams. Does Senator Devine wish to speak? She is very welcome to the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality.

We are at the end of our engagement with Emma, Professor Harvey, and Ms Boyd. There were a couple of proposals that we should certainly take up. One was correspondence with the British Secretary of State in the North regarding an update on the review. Are members happy that we would write as a committee to the British Secretary of State seeking an update on the review? Of course, we will share what information we receive, if any, with you all.

It strikes me that we are looking at a situation here where British taxpayers' money is being used to crush Irish citizens' rights - that is really where we are at. I refer to the point Deputy Adams made on the weight of this, not only in terms of taking on the case, but the additional factor of how all of this is financed. I would like to suggest that we write to our Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to that say we fully support the efforts of the Government to pursue the matter, as it has demonstrated it is doing, but to explore what other avenues, if any, that it can employ in order to, significantly if possible, ratchet up the pressure. Added to that is a request for consideration in relation to the cost of Emma's case because it is not just about Emma and her husband. This is something that goes much farther and much deeper. Are we in agreement that as a committee we write to the Tánaiste and cover those issue?

I am not going to rehearse any of the points made, which have been excellent. I want to commend all the members, the non-members, and those who have attended and engaged here today. There is just one thing I want to say to Emma, and it sums up my personal position, and I think that of the whole committee. In our deliberations today, she has been awarded the stubborn badge, and nobody is more entitled to wear it proudly. Well done Emma and thank you very much on behalf of all of us.

On behalf of the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality, I wish to thank Ms Emma DeSouza, Professor Harvey and Ms Una Boyd. I am going to invite them to join us for a photograph to record their attendance this morning. I look forward to progress on the case and the opportunity of engaging again in the future.

I am going to suspend the session for a few minutes. We will resume in private session to address the report on direct provision. I appeal to members to please come back in once the photograph is taken.