Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The composition of the commission is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. There are a number of members who, by legislation, have to be on the commission. It will be the job of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to propose a chairperson who would normally be a High Court judge. We have already received very strong advice from the Attorney General that in his opinion the issue of the McKenna judgment does not kick in until the day the Bill is passed by the Oireachtas and signed into law by the President. I understand a number of organisations are taking a much more conservative and restrictive view in regard to that issue.The strong advice given to Government in regard to the McKenna judgment is that it does not kick in until the day the Bill is passed.

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