Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It does.

Let us be clear on what the amendment provides. It states: "Where the Minister is informed by the committee that it will not complete its work on or before 31 March 2017 or is otherwise satisfied that the committee will not complete its work on or before that date, he or she may, on or before that date, make an order extending the first-mentioned period for such further period". It is specifically linked to the process needing more time to complete the work, as opposed to somebody saying: "This is awkward politically, so let us push it off for two years." That is not what is envisaged here or what was agreed. We have asked the Attorney General to be quite clear in terms of the wording to make sure we are true to the commitment as to what was agreed.

The amendment also states "for such further period, commencing on the day immediately following the expiration of the first-mentioned period, as does not exceed the period that he or she believes the committee will require to complete its work and is specified in the order". In other words, if I am still a Minister at that point and if the chair of the committee says that they need an extra month or six weeks, I have to be satisfied that is a fair request and then we will agree to an extension to allow the committee a reasonable period of time to finish its work if that is necessary. However, members should not forget that we have given three months here for the committee to do its work. Therefore, I expect the commission will finish its work in five months, or perhaps even sooner, but we are giving five months for that process. The committee will then have three months to consider those recommendations and come up with its own views and recommendations, and then the Oireachtas will have a month. That sets out where the nine months period we are talking about is credible. Let us wait and see how that transpires. It is very clear in this amendment that this is about allowing a reasonable amount of time to finish the process that is under way if that is required. The legislation facilitates that; it facilitates the Minister to be able to do that. It is not about avoiding awkward decisions. This is an awkward issue, let us face it. There are deep divisions politically on this issue within and across political parties. That is why we are trying to get an informed series of recommendations around which, hopefully, we can build some consensus and on which we can get a majority in the Oireachtas. Let us wait and see whether that is possible.