Mr. John Finucane:

I am going to ask a couple of questions and I know my colleague, Mr. Francie Molloy, is going to be speaking after me. I want to start by thanking Mr. O'Hare and Mr. Reavey for their testimony. I know all too well that it is not easy to do. I recognise that both will feel it is very important the members of the committee hear from them directly. I want to put on record, and I am sure all members of the committee would agree, that we appreciate and are sensitive to how difficult days like today are. We are all united, as the Chair said, in our opposition to this Bill. My questions are to Ms Teggart and I say this respectfully now that we are down to ten minutes. The ten minutes will include both questions and answers. I know Mr. Molloy wants to come in after me. I would like to develop the inter-state case and ask if she could explain why Amnesty believes an inter-state case is necessary for this legislation, if it is put on the Statute Book or even before it is put on the Statute Book? In that context, has Amnesty had meetings with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or any Government parties at a formal level, advocating lobbying on taking an inter-state case? If so, what has the response been, if she can share that? If not, is that something that Amnesty intends to do?