John McGahon (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I might come in first with a couple of questions because our time is limited. Mr. Holder outlined the international mechanisms that will be open to the Government to challenge the legacy Bill if it goes forward. Is the European Court of Human Rights the key international mechanism in that regard? This is a bit of a hypothetical question but, if that were to happen, what would be the timeframe to go through such a complex European legal setting?

Our guests spoke about migrants crossing the Border, and I have seen that too where I come from, with Garda checks either on the Enterprise train between Dundalk and Belfast or on the side of the motorway. Do they have much experience of how often that happens? When the CAJ is dealing with the North West Migrants Forum, it seeks to end these practices happening. How does it go about that? Is it a case of trying to engage with An Garda Síochána? How can the process be ended? On one level, the Garda is enforcing what it believes to be the law. How do our guests engage with the Garda, therefore, and what do they do to try to reduce the practice?

I have seen it myself and it can be incredibly embarrassing for a person of colour who is an Irish citizen when they get on the bus and look to establish who that person of colour potentially is. I accept and understand where it is coming from but am wondering what we can do to fix, lessen or resolve that?