Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses. That was very powerful evidence from them. On a human scale, it was a total nightmare to have gone through those experiences, for family members to be murdered and to come across those appalling, evil crimes, and then to wait only to be faced with such an issue. This committee believes this legislation should not proceed. Before I open up the meeting to members, I would like to make clear that this committee has made a number of representations to the Attorney General's office. We have received a letter, which is in our correspondence, saying that his role is as adviser to the Government and he cannot share his legal views with us. That is an appropriate role for him. That is his legal role. We have invited the Minister for Foreign Affairs here to discuss that. I know our secretariat is arranging that visit as soon as possible to ensure the committee hears the views of the Irish Government on this issue. I am going to open up the meeting now, but we will keep it to 15 minutes each. Everybody is free to make points.