Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fully agree with the last point the Deputy made and when I received her letter, yesterday I think, I immediately set about seeking to see if I could do as the Deputy asked, which was to mandate that there would be an extension to the notice period for the reasons she has fairly articulated. I am informed that the regulations do not permit me, as Minister, to amend the decisions or vary the conditions. However, I want to say very clearly on the record of this House that I believe the deadline should be extended. I note that the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee very kindly sent me a copy of the letter it sent to Deputy Shortall where it outlined the process. I believe it sent the letter today. It has now also written to the people involved in the project highlighting this issue and ascertaining if they would amend the time period. They should amend the time period. I support Deputy Shortall in her call in regard to this. I do not want to eat up the rest of the Deputy's time explaining the public health tests that would have been applied, the independence of the group etc., but the principal point the Deputy makes is that where there is an opt-out rather than an opt-in, there is a greater burden on those carrying out the research to make sure that everybody who wishes to opt out has the ability to do that. I think Deputy Shortall's concern is that that may not have been the case and I share her view in that regard.

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