Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

He asked why I did not answer this question the last time we dealt with such matters. This was and is a matter for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Minister, Deputy McDowell. At that time, it was proper for that Department to answer the question. Since then, this matter has been on the agenda of a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and I attended the meeting at which the matter was discussed. We are now reporting to the House and answering Deputy Allen's questions on foot of those discussions. The Deputy is getting two bites of the cherry. He got an answer from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform some weeks ago and he is now getting a direct response from the Department of Foreign Affairs. I also want to say that we have one of the most——

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