Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and her officials for attending and briefing us on this important legislation.

My first question is on the development of the Bill more generally, the interaction with other Departments, the state of readiness, and how things are going in terms of drafting. An update would be valuable for everybody and give us a sense of what is happening with other committees. Of course, the Minister cannot answer for other Departments but what is the general state of preparation?

The Minister's opening statement was very helpful but I ask her to go into a little more detail about the family law provisions, particularly domicile and habitual residence provisions. Will anything change? How will the provisions affect practitioners? What are the practicalities of the changes for family law? People worry that this will have an impact on family law. There are also many families who live between England and Ireland for whom the provisions may apply.