Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee and updating us on the Department's position on the proposed Bill. The balance struck is reasonable. However, when the committees, boards and inquiries were set up, one would have expected the issue to be addressed then, as those who contributed to the inquiries, the redress board and the review committee would have done so on the basis of the 2002 legislation. Why was that not the case? It can only have been to try to reassure those coming forward that their contributions would be confidential. Now we are changing the terms, although I accept it is for valid reasons. I would be interested to hear any feedback the Department has had arising from its engagement with those who contributed and whose testimony informed those documents. I would like to hear their views on the issue and whether they would have been as comfortable coming forward in the first place had what we may regard as a reasonable balance been included in the initial legislation.