Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To act in good faith with the committee members, a lot of time and energy went into the debate on the Bill last year so this would be captured. The spirit of the legislation was that the Ombudsman would have the opportunity to investigate these matters. I have no doubt that was the spirit of the law. We believe we have gone as far as we can go. That said, I suggest that we would leave the opportunity available from Committee Stage to Report Stage to further examine it and talk to members of the committee to see if we can come to a position where these are available to be investigated.