Ms Sorcha Tunney:

I will speak to the timelines, but I would also recommend the Dutch Government as being one with which the committee could also engage. It has not got legislation yet; it is just beginning that process. It is ahead of us and is leading at EU level as well.

On timelines, the proposal was published in February. There have been two presidencies since it was brought forward. The first Presidency was held by France. The Czech Republic now holds the Presidency. Sweden will be next to hold the Presidency. We are hoping to see it finalised during Sweden's Presidency. It is also with the European Parliament. The committees that will have opinions have been decided, and the process of forming those opinions has started. Some of the deadlines for amendments to the opinions have already passed, but there is still this month and early next month.

As Ms de Barra mentioned, in terms of when the Council will move to the ambassador level, Politico is saying that the Czech Presidency wants that to happen in October. Once it goes to the ambassador level, it will then go to the Ministers' level and the Ministers will make decisions on it. We do not know when that meeting will take place exactly. We think it will be in early December. My point is that it is moving. To be fair to the European process, all those involved are meeting their deadlines. It is very much a live issue. It will hopefully be finalised during 2023. There will then be 18-month transposition period for each country.