Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I said, a recently announced change is occurring right now. A decision has been taken that when suspects are being interviewed, a solicitor can be present. Before that decision was taken, the legal advice was that it would be difficult for us to opt in to this particular proposal for the directive. Now that there has been a change, I was able to take the decision at the Council to indicate that we could opt in at a future date. I was very pleased to be able to do that because it means children will have the protection that would emerge under this proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the procedural safeguards for children who are suspected or accused in criminal proceedings. It means we can now examine opting in to the proposal whereas, previously, we were not in a position to do that.