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

On that note, on my own behalf and on behalf of the committee, I thank James, Geraldine and Seán from the Courts Service for their participation and engagement with the committee, and to Conan and Yvonne from the Department of Justice and Equality for their attendance and engagement.

The points I made, in summary, at the conclusion of the first session, still stand as issues of concern and address. We, as a committee, will deliberate on all of that in terms of the construct of our report. It would be fair to say, with the Justice for Wards representatives in the committee room with us as we speak, that we intend as a committee to continue to monitor the issues that we have addressed. Our report will not close our interest going forward and we would like to hear that some of what they have reflected on will be the new experience of the families concerned in the future. It is up to the Courts Service, primarily, and the Department in its role and how it impacts, to help ensure that there is a new day and a new relationship in the future.

I thank everyone for their attendance. We will suspend briefly before going into private session. I appeal to the members not to vacate the committee room as we have some work to conclude.