Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I support Deputy Howlin's amendment. If no provision is made for material to be returned it could impact on future cases because the Bill specifies that the ICC would take precedence over cases in this State but if its case were to fail it would still allow the State to proceed with another charge. However, if the material sent to The Hague is not returned when its case is concluded, this could endanger any future prosecution in Ireland.

It is important that material is returned but it is also important that the bodies of loved ones are respected and that they would be reinterred as quickly as possible to ensure the minimum grief is caused to their families at such a time. The amendment is worthwhile as it puts that extra duty on the State to ensure we would get back all evidence supplied to the ICC so that our legal system can have all the evidence at its disposal.

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