Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will be brief. I thank the witnesses for attending the committee meeting.

Ms Counihan's recommendation to provide the information prior to an investigation is wise and positive. It would enhance the level of provision.

In the absence of the O'Malley review, it is regrettable the Department has missed another deadline in such an important area, particularly with regard to the politics of this. The Dáil is inching towards its end, as we all know, and I fear this legislation, now that it is in pre-legislative scrutiny, will, unfortunately, lapse with the Dáil and have to be re-examined by a future Dáil. There would have been an opportunity if the O'Malley review had been accelerated, prioritised and published so that at least we could have a fusion of what it recommends, what is here and what the witnesses are stating as experts. Officials from the Department came before us last week. The committee should urgently write to the Department about missed opportunities with timelines.