Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for attending. My first questions are for Dr. Lynch and relate to the ratification of the optional protocol. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, in response to a parliamentary question, reiterated the commitment in the programme for Government to addressing this issue. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated that this could take years and no reference was made to the ratification of the optional protocol in the opening statement. Will Dr. Lynch explain the divergence in priority between him and the Minister? At a meeting of this committee, the Minister was very clear in his statement. Does Dr. Lynch intend to accelerate the process as a result of this? If that is the position of the commission, does he intend to recommend that the Minister do the same?