Mr. Chris Hazzard:

I thank the witnesses for their presentation and concur with much of what has been said previously.

First, it is important that the narrative is developed. We can wrongfully think that this is just the Tory right which is driving this. Elements from across the entire British political system who have bought into this idea and accept the narrative regarding the witch trials and all the rest of it. I think that there is a role for the Dublin Government.

Second, I want to pick up on the point made about authoritarian regimes around the world licking their lips at this. It used to be the case that those same regimes in similar places used to be very envious of various clauses in the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) and I have no doubt that they are going to look at this legislation. Where does the United Nations come in, especially with regards to the fact that the Irish Government has a seat on the Security Council? Is there a role for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights? Is there opportunity for periodic reviews to look at some of this stuff? Does that help put it into an arena that again helps? It is right to say that the Council of Ministers and the State case in Europe is going to be the obvious place. What role does the United Nations play in this regard?