Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted Professor O'Mahony was able to return to the committee. In the first meeting we had, it was great when he appeared in the afternoon session because in the first session I felt there was no sense of urgency from some Departments. There was a sense that it was impossible and of wondering how we could do it. As has been detailed in Professor O'Mahony's paper, since 2020 there is a range of solutions. That is what has struck me in all the committee hearings over the last number of weeks. While it is complex, there is a bunch of solutions staring us in the face. I am glad Professor O'Mahony had the opportunity to come to the committee and to put on record his response to the issues paper. He also gave us a very detailed brief.

Professor O'Mahony said in his opening statement: "It is my considered view that these concerns are based on an incomplete understanding of the recommendations and the associated legal landscape, and are beset by logical inconsistencies". On the last occasion he was before the committee, it emerged that there has been no further contact or follow-up from the Government of any of the Departments since he had done his paper. Now that this committee has held a number of meetings, has there been any follow-up from the Government with regard to his 2020 paper?