Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)

I am aware of these recommendations because, as the Deputy may recollect, I am a member of the committee to which he referred. I have brought the report to my Department where it is being circulated and evaluated. I pay tribute to the Members of both Houses who participated in the proceedings of that committee. It is unfortunate that two or three controversial issues were cherry-picked out of it for public attention even though the report is a substantial one containing many other issues. I refer, for example, to the current identification parade procedures which I regard as indefensible. Another important matter is the capacity of an alleged perpetrator to personally cross-examine a child victim in court. All those issues have been dealt with comprehensively.

Regardless of the fact that one of the central proposals in the committee's report is dependent on the passage of a referendum, that should not be a comfort zone for official Ireland in looking at the other issues which do not require any delay pending a referendum. I am anxious that all the proposals in the committee's report that do not require legislative change should be addressed as quickly as possible.

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