Ms Caitriona Mason:

Yes, certainly. The Garda Síochána has suggested that it is likely this legislation will be contentious and consequently it would like to send files to the DPP and the DPP would decide whether or not to proceed with prosecutions.

We did not include this in the general scheme, but if it is considered necessary or legally desirable, we would not have an objection to it. We have already discussed it briefly with the Department of Justice, which suggested that, because it might be in some respects resource dependent and could lead to a backlog in people being prosecuted for the offence, if that makes sense, the most appropriate people to comment on it would be the DPP and that we engage with them, so we have sent a suggestion to the DPP. That is a very long-winded way of answering; I am sorry.