Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the helpful presentations. Many of us hold a strong view on this issue of ethnicity, and Deputy Mac Lochlainn's questions go to the heart of the ongoing impact of denial of ethnicity.

I am interested in focusing on an aspect of the presentation about the process of recognition. If the committee is to recommend recognition of ethnicity, how does the Government go about implementing that? I note the suggestion that it may not require legislation. Perhaps I, as a lawyer, have been prejudiced and assumed legislation would be required, but I note the witnesses point out, rightly, that a statement of recognition could be made in the Dáil and Seanad and the State, at an international level, could affirm ethnicity without necessitating legislation, although the witnesses state it would be useful. Could Ms Lucey elaborate on that? Would it be enough to make that sort of statement and to take that position as a State without explicitly setting it out in statutory format?