Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

The Minister does not believe that we are in violation of any international convention. Has he examined Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in the context of the report to the Human Rights Commission? Can he assure the House that we are not in breach of any obligation under that or any other article? Does he accept the need for what the report described as an "overarching statute" in this regard? It is not simply a matter of sorting out property rights but involves wider issues. Has he ruled out the possibility of amending the Constitution?

With regard to the options paper commissioned by the Minister, who is responsible for writing it and what will be its status once it is completed?

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