Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her reply. However, it has not answered any of our questions fully. The Minister has said that she met Judge Yvonne Murphy last week "to discuss the request for the extension of the timeframe for the delivery of the commission's reports and to ensure [she] had a full understanding of the progress to date and the basis for the additional time being requested." When was that request made? Did the commission submit that request to the Minister at the beginning of December? If so, why were the survivors not given some sort of early warning of this request before they read about it in the newspapers? The Minister has said that contrary to what we have suggested, this "is not a proposal". She also stated the interim report "grounds the request for an extension of the timeframe to deliver the three reports from the commission by one year." Why is that the case?

I will conclude by making a point that the Minister might take on board. Prior to the promised publication date in mid-February, the commission should produce a further interim report to deal specifically and solely with redress matters. An interim report dealing specifically and solely with redress matters should be brought to us by the middle of February. This will enable the Government to act to address these issues. A report dealing with redress matters is the least that should be done at this stage.

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