Ms Anne Barry:

There was extensive consultation on the scheme over the past two years. We engaged extensively with the Garda Commissioner and the Garda oversight bodies. That engagement will continue during the course of the drafting of the Bill. We welcome these sessions. It is very useful to hear the views of other stakeholders, and we look forward to the committee's report and recommendations in due course.

Regarding Garda staff and the change of their status, the enactment of the Bill will not automatically lead to a change in status of existing Garda staff. The scheme provides for consultation with staff representative bodies and trade unions before that change of status occurs. It also requires an order by the Minister designating that Garda staff are no longer civil servants. The scheme includes a firm statutory obligation to undertake consultation at that point.