Ms Margaret Urwin:

I have tried to relay today that there may not be a necessity for new legislation. That is why the Department of Justice is seeking the advice of the Attorney General. It is to see whether the current legislation is adequate or sufficient to enable them to pass the files. They have given us the commitment that if the Attorney General's advice is that it is not sufficient, they will ask the Oireachtas to introduce new legislation to cover for it. It would be premature to decide to go with new legislation. The Cathaoirleach has stated that the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement will write to the Minister for Justice about the matter. Until the advice is received from the Attorney General, it would be premature to seek to introduce new legislation.