Ms Sinéad Gibney:

I thank Deputy McAuliffe for his questions. The way the Deputy described chapters one and two in the earlier part of his questioning was very helpful. Of course, there were limitations on how regulations and legislation could be measured and tested during that time. We are now in chapter two, however, and it is now up to the Oireachtas to engage in that scrutiny. As my colleague mentioned, we have been calling, since 2016, for the creation of a committee to deal with human rights. If one thinks about how that could enhance the legislative process in the future, it means that the voices of those affected by these issues, and the human rights and equality experts that are here in the State and ready to help will, by default, be included in that process. That should absolutely be the case. That will then also play into the fact that for future emergency legislation, which I agree should be discussed when we are fresh out of - or still in - this emergency, it is the right time to build in these default structures. That way legislation and practice can be better scrutinised at an earlier stage of the process.