Paul Bradford (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are now almost 12 hours into today's session and we will have two more sessions next week. We had a number of hearings in January, we have had Dáil and Seanad debates and a huge degree of political engagement on this matter. I suppose if anyone was returning to planet Earth from Mars and was given that backdrop, they would think we were talking about a major piece of new legislation or change in the law. However, notwithstanding the debates we have had and the debates to come and a parliamentary process, which certainly in my 20 years plus here, has never been utilised before, we are advised by the Government - the Taoiseach, the Minister for Health and others - that no new law is being put in place, that there will be no change and that this is simply codifying, which the new buzz word. Notwithstanding the hours, weeks and months of debate, this is not about a new law or a change. That is what we are being advised by very senior Government sources. As far as the witnesses are concerned, is this about a change in law and a change in practice? If not, what is it about?