Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The expert group was established by the Government to report to it on the options it could take in addressing the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. It is not unreasonable that the Minister for Health who has received the report and the Government should have an opportunity to read and consider it and take the issue forward. I have indicated as clearly as I can that we are open to having the report discussed in the House and having a wider public debate. No one is delaying or trying to hide anything. However, I ask Deputies to be reasonable. The report has only been received in the past couple of days. The Minister needs an opportunity to consider it and the Government an opportunity to discuss it. This is an issue to which we need to give some consideration. That will be our approach.

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