Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I believe the Minister's intention is as he says. When he says that he is going to try to resolve this in the way that the survivors want, I believe that he will try. I believe it will be difficult for survivors to put trust in the Minister as a part of the State and a member of an institution such as this. What I would prefer to see is for this Bill to be somehow amended to give extra time. I mentioned before that the Minister's amendments allow for the dissolution of the commission to happen on 28 February. My understanding is that the sealing of the records will take effect upon dissolution of the commission under the 2004 Act. I believe that a simple amendment could be made here. If the Minister wants to give himself a year, he should allow the commission to stay in place and not dissolve it. It can still report in October. That will give the Minister the time he needs to put legislation in place and to look into the issue of GDPR. As the Minister says, it is a contested view. He can examine it, bring it to the committee and do whatever he needs to do. He should give himself a year to do it. That is a really simple amendment that he could make to his own amendment, to extend that period of time. That will give everyone a bit of space. The Minister can do his consultation, talk to survivors and get this right. If we rush this through today, it will not be right for a long time.

I would like to press some amendments. I understand the guillotine is at 6.30 p.m.

See this speech in context